Last-Gasp Equaliser Sees Empire Oust Colonial Upstarts
Story by Jeremy Ruane

A last-gasp equaliser from Toni Duggan spared the blushes of the “Empire” at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Finals in Santiago on November 27, and served to break the hearts of the “Colonial Upstarts”, who were just thirty seconds away from a famous victory and a special place in New Zealand’s footballing history.

The Junior Ferns were denied the honour of becoming the first NZ representative team, male or female, to qualify for the knock-out stages of a FIFA tournament by England’s late leveller at the Estadio Municipal de la Florida.

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Published: 30 November 2008

North Korea Claim Maiden U-17 Women’s Final
Story by Jeremy Ruane / Photos By Graham Hughes

North Korea scored a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over the USA at North Harbour Stadium on 16 November to become the first nation in history to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The triumph, at the conclusion of a tense and gripping final, means the Asian giants are unquestionably the queens of age-grade women’s football across the world, as they also hold the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which they won in Russia in 2006.

The USA got off to the perfect start after just 102 seconds. A long throw-in from Cloee Colohan wasn’t dealt with by the North Korean defence, and the ball bounced into the far corner of the net despite the despairing attempts of Hong Myong Hui to keep it out - she must have made contact for the goal to be awarded, although it was certainly unclear from video footage who did get the vital touch.

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Published: 16 November 2008

Three And Easy For Germany
Story by Jeremy Ruane / Photos By Graham Hughes

Germany cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over England at North Harbour Stadium on 16 November to claim a third-placed finish in the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Finals.

The European champions started the first half brightly, with Alexandra Popp and Lynn Mester both going close inside the first three minutes, the respective opportunities provided by Marie-Louise Bagehorn and Dzsenifer Marozsan.

England responded through Danielle Carter in the seventh minute, the striker dashing down the left before checking inside the covering run of Leonie Maier and letting fly from the edge of the penalty area. German ‘keeper Almuth Schult tipped the shot to safety.

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Published: 16 November 2008

Brilliant Iwabuchi The Queen Of The Cup
Story by Jeremy Ruane / Photos By Graham Hughes

Brilliant Japanese midfield maestro Mana Iwabuchi was crowned queen of the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Finals at North Harbour Stadium on Sunday, when she was voted by accredited media as winner of the Adidas Golden Ball award.

Despite playing just three games in the finals, the gifted number ten was a worthy winner of the prized honour, which is presented to the competition’s most outstanding player.

The Silver Ball was awarded to Germany’s outstanding number ten, Dzsenifer Marozsan, was USA number ten, Kristie Mewis, collected the Bronze Ball.

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Published: 16 November 2008

Sportsweb Soccer’s FIFA U-17 WWC Tournament Team
As selected by Jeremy Ruane

It is traditional for FIFA to name a tournament team at the conclusion of both the Women’s World Cup and World Cup Finals, but not for the age-grade competitions. So, without further ado, herewith the Sportsweb Soccer tournament selection, chosen from the countries which contested the knockout stages of the Finals.

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Published: 16 November 2008

Ecstatic Young Ferns Make A Statement
Story by Jeremy Ruane

The Young Ferns camp was understandably ecstatic after winning their final match in a two-year campaign which has culminated in hosting the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Finals.

“This is huge for New Zealand women’s football!”, declared coach Paul Temple after his young charges humbled South American champions Columbia 3-1 at Wellington Stadium.

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Published: 06 November 2008

Frill-Free Koreans Flatten Disappointing Danes
Story by Jeremy Ruane

North Korea became the first team to advance to the semi-finals of the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Finals on 8 November, after scoring three goals in the last seventeen minutes to down a disappointing Denmark combination 4-0 at a sun-soaked Wellington Stadium.

The Asian champions asserted themselves straight from the kick-off, and within four minutes had gone desperately close from a corner. Kim Uj’s delivery wasn’t cleared, allowing Hyon Un Hui to unleash a twenty yarder through the crowded goalmouth. Lene Gissel smothered the effort.

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Published: 08 November 2008

French Mauled By Magnifique Japan
Story by Jeremy Ruane

Football fans at Waikato Stadium were treated to an absolutely stunning ninety minute spectacle when Japan and France locked horns on 2 November, as Young Nadeshiko lit up the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Finals with a magnificent 7-1 mauling of their European rivals to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Despite the scoreline suggests, it wasn’t all one-way traffic. Within thirteen seconds of the kick-off, Pauline Crammer bore down on defensive hesitance between Minori Chiba and goalkeeper Saki Nakamura, the latter taking charge of the situation at the very last second as the French striker looked to score the fastest goal of the Finals.

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Published: 08 November 2008

Waitakere, Koloale Record Three-Goal Wins At Home
Story by Jeremy Ruane

Koloale FC and reigning O-League champions Waitakere United recorded solid victories on Matchday Two of the 2008-9 OFC Champions League competition on Saturday, in matches marked by crowds which contrasted starkly in number.

Three goals in a thirteen-minute spell mid-way through the first half proved suffice for Waitakere to record a 3-0 victory over Port Vila Sharks at Douglas Field, as they continue their preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup Finals in less than three weeks.

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Published: 24 November 2008

Logjam Behind Leaders After Round Of Surprises
By Jeremy Ruane

Surprise scorelines abounded in the Southern Trust NZ Football Championship this week, with three points covering the top six teams at the conclusion of the fourth round of action.

Leaders Youngheart Manawatu came a cropper at home to Hawkes Bay United, whose 2-1 triumph was secured in stoppage time by a Che Bunce header. Seule Soromon had given the visitors the lead half-way through the first half at Memorial Park, then missed an open goal three minutes later after Manawatu goalkeeper Chris Marsh had erred badly.

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Published: 30 November 2008

Record Eighth Triumph For Undisputed Cup Queens
Story by Jeremy Ruane / Photos by Graham Hughes

Lynn-Avon United recorded a record eighth National Women’s Knockout Cup triumph on September 13, accounting for a feisty but ultimately outclassed Western combination 6-2 at North Harbour Stadium.

Fielding a starting eleven which, to a woman, has represented New Zealand at senior or age grade level in recent years, the hotly favoured Lynn-Avon combination set about the task of justifying that status as early as the third minute.

Hayley Moorwood, Emma Kete and Melissa Ray opened up Western on the left flank, with the last-mentioned angling a ball in to Amber Hearn. She turned it into Emma Kete’s path, but at the vital moment, Mel Anngow stepped in to avert the danger.

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Published: 14 September 2008

Own Goal Hands Bays Maiden Chatham Cup Win
Story by Jeremy Ruane & Photos By Graham Hughes

A nightmarish own goal from Dunedin Technical captain John Chisholm proved enough for East Coast Bays to win the Chatham Cup for the first time in their history on September 13.

The 1-0 win, in front of just under 3000 fans at North Harbour Stadium, was due reward for Bays, who always held the edge over the southerners in a final which offered plenty of perspiration and aggression, but at the expense of inspiration and finesse.

A sixth minute opportunity - Aaron Burgess was forced to hurdle Bays’ goalkeeper Aidan Gwilt as the ‘keeper saved at the onrushing striker’s feet near the edge of the penalty area - was all Tech managed to muster in the early stages of a first half in which they were certainly competitive. It was just that the North Harbour team was even more so.

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Published: 13 September 2008

Wellington Lone Winners As Late Goals Secure Draws
Story by Jeremy Ruane

Wellington Phoenix caused the shock of the thirteenth round of Hyundai A-League action at Westpac Stadium on the final weekend in November, coming from behind to down league leaders Melbourne Victory 2-1 to the undisguised delight of 7953 fans, who were treated to an enthralling game of open, enterprising football.

On a weekend when all other matches were drawn, the New Zealand combination, whose performances in their brief A-League history have too often been of the dour, uninspiring variety, found themselves trailing to a Danny Allsopp goal after 21 minutes, the striker heading home the rebound after Ney Fabiano had directed a header against the post.

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Published: 30 November 2008

Wellington Come From Behind To Stun Leaders
Story by Jeremy Ruane

Wellington Phoenix caused a stunning upset in the Hyundai A-League on November 28, as they came from behind to down league leaders Melbourne Victory 2-1 at Westpac Stadium, much to the delight of the 7953 fans present.

In recording a record third successive win, and their first-ever victory over Melbourne, the home team produced their best display yet, contributing much to an enthralling encounter which offered much in the way of open, entertaining play, yet which found both defences in outstanding form.

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Published: 30 November 2008

Some Final Thoughts
Story by Jeremy Ruane

As I’m typing this, I’m eastward bound over the Tasman Sea, and the gorgeous Cameron Diaz is the star turn on the in-flight movie as the final leg of what has been a longer than anticipated trip home draws to a close.

Why so? Our flight from Shanghai was some three hours late in departing, thanks to a lovely electrical storm which provided its own entertainment, in the form of lighting up the airfield at Shanghai Pudong at regular intervals. Only one flight took the risk of taking off during its wrath, and nothing more was heard from it after its departure - one assumes that it made its destination intact.

It meant a rather frustrating time for those on board our aircraft, and doubtless the situation was repeated on others also. Some folk had to rearrange connecting flights, but thankfully that wasn’t the case for me - this delay just ate up the time I’d have spent wandering around the shops in the transit lounge at Kingsford Smith (the name by which Sydney Airport is properly known).

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Published: 16 August 2008

Back-To-Back Gold Medals For Argentina
Story by Jeremy Ruane

Argentina clinched successive gold medals in the Olympic Men’s Football Tournament on Saturday, downing Nigeria 1-0 in Beijing’s “Birds’ Nest” to claim the crown at the Games of the 29th Olympiad.

Lionel Messi cleverly set up the winning goal just shy of the hour mark for Angel di Maria, whose chipped strike clinched victory for the Argentines in an uninspiring match not aided by the fact it was played in ferocious 42C heat.

Water-breaks were the order of the day as the players endured the challenging conditions in the midday sun, with Nigeria unable to get the better of Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero, despite having their fair share of chances to do so in a match watched by 89,102 fans.

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Published: 23 August 2008