Football Ferns beaten by Mexico in game two
- Dave Worsley
- 8 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Football Ferns have suffered a second defeat to Mexico, following Friday’s narrow 1–0 loss, after an stronger performance in Ciudad Juárez.
Head coach Michael Mayne’s side arguably produced a stronger showing at the Estadio OlÃmpico Benito Juárez than in the first clash but were undone by an early free kick and a cruel rebound for the hosts’ second.
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There were five changes to the side that faced Mexico in Mexico City, with Katie Bowen, Claudia Bunge, Deven Jackson, Grace Neville and Gabi Rennie coming in for Liz Anton, Milly Clegg, Jacqui Hand, Katie Kitching and Annalie Longo.
Mayne appointed Kate Taylor captained the New Zealand for the first time, a proud milestone for the 22-year-old.
The Ferns started with more attacking intent than in the first game but went behind after 11 minutes.
MarÃa Sánchez won a free kick on the edge of the box and played it short to Diana Ordóñez, who finished past Vic Esson in the Ferns’ net for an early lead, similar to Friday’s opener.
Five minutes later, it was two.
A cross into the Ferns’ box was parried and fell to Sánchez, whose shot at goal was cleared off the line by Taylor but rebounded off Sánchez’s back and towards the net.
With no VAR in use, it was impossible to know if the ball had fully crossed the line, but the goal was given, doubling Mexico’s lead.
The Ferns nearly halved the deficit two minutes later when a Claudia Bunge cross found the head of Kelli Brown, but her effort deflected agonisingly off the post in the best opportunity of the first half.
The second half saw the Ford Football Ferns continue to create opportunities, but they were unable to find the net.
Despite the result, the performance was much improved, with the Ferns registering 10 shots to Mexico’s 11, far tighter than Friday’s match.
Next up, the Ford Football Ferns travel to Kansas City to take on the USA