Frustration for Football Ferns beaten by Haiti
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The Football Ferns have lost the first of two international games in Malaga, Spain to lower ranked Haiti.
Goals either side of halftime cost New Zealand after they went ahead late in the first half through a header by defender Claudia Bunge.
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It was the first time the two nations met and it completed a notable double for Haiti in the space of a week after the men's side outclassed the All Whites 4-0 in a World Cup warmup match in Florida.
New Zealand scored in the 41st minute when a Michaela Foster's free kick found the experienced Bunge, who nodded the ball into the far side of the net in clinical fashion for her second international goal.
Haiti then turned the pressure on the Ferns in final minutes of the half when captain Nerilia Mondesir guided home a free kick from the right-hand touchline in stoppage time.
The second half saw and early free kick, to Lourdjina Etienne take the score to 2-1 in favour of the Caribbean side.
The Michael Mayne coached Football Ferns then found themselves chasing Haiti who were able to control the pace of the game in a frustrating final 30 minutes.
New Zealand is 33rd in the FIFA women's rankings. Haiti are 46th.
The Football Ferns second game is against Morocco on Wednesday mornin