All Whites, Ferns, and other international teams

NZ vs Canada - Match Thread

125 replies · 4,338 views
over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
that was a thriller. Cant believe we lost. Hope the Nix players were watching and taking notice.

Founder

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Oh that close bad luck girls, so unlucky not to have nicked a draw, great game great game   giddyup2008-10-28 21:00:53
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Hard News wrote:
Interesting that this has got 10x what the Knights used to get.
 
That one game would equal the Knights attendance for the whole season!
 
Excellent advert for the game really, clean, no bad fouls, no gobbing off at the referee, no time wasting. If only some others could show that fighting spirit for 95 minutes. I also noticed the NZ ladies were trying shooting from more than 6 yards out. refreshing to see midfeilders having a go.
 
I've even got the wife going to Thursdays game/s. There should be some awesome footie on show.
Lonegunmen2008-10-28 21:05:27
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
That match was f**king brilliant.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Even though we lost based on our attacking style and how we played that was one of the best performances by a NZ age group team (male or female) for a long time. There are a few girls on the team who are very skillful Longo especially (could be one of the players of the tournament) and can we get the girl who hit the bar with free kick to coach the nix on taking, them that was a cracker.
 
Unlucky to lose due to one  mistake at the back, we looked like the better team but again the old NZ problem of not getting on target enough. Llooking forward to the next one and congratulations to Auckland (can't believe I'm saying that) a great turnout.
 
It seems to me that we have a far better chance of success with the womens game on the world stage than the mens, maybe we should be putting our money into them.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
The Wellington Phoenixes??
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
The game was class, end to end and the girls put up a good fight definatly deserved a goal or two. Unlucky in the end but if they keeping knocking through balls like that, theyl score a few goals this tournament. That Longo girl is class.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Good to watch a game where a bit of contact doesn't result in one or both players writhing on the ground in agony.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Yea that was the biggest thing I noticed, the girls just get on with the game, none of the petulant sh*t like mouthing off at the ref or each other, or gamesmanship or anything.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Congratulations all round. 
 
You often worry about the credibility thing when watching 'your' sport, but this was one of the most enjoyable TV sports events I've seen of late (disappointment at result notwithstanding). Could really grow as THE girls/womens sport in the same way it has in the States.
 
Plan to take Thursday arvo off work now! 
 

I know, I know, its serious!

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Football as theatre! What a great game. Shame that it was Sky and not a nationwide terrestrial audience. EXCELLENT!!! 
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe. 
20/5/20

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Seriously folks, we need to talk this up from here on in this week.  Tell everyone you meet about how great this was, be an evangelist for this competition.

Hopefully we can talk everyone in to Thursday, they will get on board and come at the weekend and most importantly they will bring the family along on Tuesday next week to cheer NZ on.  From there they woll on to the quarter final and the Phoenix return home.

If people want paraphernalia start a thread and we'll talk to Amanda and Will at the U-17 office about getting a stack so we can drop flyers on every desk or table we see.

How's my driving? - Whine here

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I'm off to the lobby of my hotel to welcome the girls back. Will give them a standing ovation on everyone's behalf. They deserve it. Great game with some fantastic football played. VERY unlucky not to score.

Its no longer a problem.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I'm really looking forward to the game next week in Welli. 

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Toffeeman wrote:
I'm off to the lobby of my hotel to welcome the girls back. Will give them a standing ovation on everyone's behalf. They deserve it. Great game with some fantastic football played. VERY unlucky not to score.


that's always me at the pub...
I like tautologies because I like them.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
A lot of people will be like most of us were to be fair, a bit iffy about what the quality is going to be like. After that the word will surely get out. Hopefully the schools get in behind it too

www.kiwifromthecouch.blogspot.com

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I couldnt watch the game because of no sky. Cn someone describe the preformance from th NZ team and the highlights?
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
The girls played very well, unlucky not to have got something from the game. The standard was very good, much, much better than what I expected. If the girls play like that in the next two games there's no reason why we shouldn't get some wins.

And that free kick from maybe 30 yards out from Caitlin Campbell (I think?)? That was very impressive, well done.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Another top mark is that according to the comentator this is the biggest crowd ever for any womens sporting event in NZ, fantastic stuff

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Great atmosphere at the game i have to say. 13,000 excellent crowd i know the ticketing people and chief organisers were very pleased with that effort.

Felt so sorry for the girls at the end when they started crying. They were so close to a draw against apparently the best team in the group and put so much effort in.

Three for me, and two for them.

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
the Young ferns showed so much tenacity and passion- i hope the Nix were watching..thats how you push a team for 95 minutes- what an advert for the game- sure some of the finishing from both teams was bertos -esque but the spirit was willing- and how good is a keeper coming up for a 94 minute corner!!!!!!!!!!!!! class

Salmon swim upstream

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Great game.  Absolutely brilliant.  The girls should be really proud, they played there hearts out and deserved at least one point.

Campbell's a good player (so close!), and our keeper made a good save.  I noticed that they played the so often condemned hoofing the ball up the middle of the park, but it worked pretty well.  Had many attacks that could've ended in goals off aforementioned plays.

If NZ were to progress, though, I'd have thought Canada would've been the easiest team to get points off (in a pretty strong group).  Oh well, bring on Colombia and Denmark!
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
That was a fantastic game. Longo was outstanding, getting around their midfield with ease and laying off good passes. Unlucky not to get one, or even a couple of goals. The wife and I were both jumping up and down at the end.
 
I imagine the crowd was boosted by it being the opening game of the tournament, and with NZ playing. Hope to be proved wrong, though.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Man, what a game. That's the most i've enjoyed a game of footy in ages. Ok that girl Longo is AWESOME. She has some great skills and vision. Our defence was a bit of a worry though. But yeah, wow, Longo, what a star.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Stack here, I have been fortunate enough to have been videoing the girls games and training sessions and they are gutted to have lost but there is also a buzz around because they realize they can win these next games. They have seen your comments on here, it will have given them a lift for sure.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Stack is rubbish.  Make sure they read that.

Up for the final... you got floor space if my parents don't want me ?

How's my driving? - Whine here

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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
yeah floor space available. i might be coming to the Welly game if I can wangle work to fit. Tell the missus
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I haven't half enjoyed reading the comments on this thread.
 
A lot of eyes have been opened as a result of this exposure, I'm sure.
 
Perhaps people will appreciate now why I devote far more of my energy and resources towards covering the women's game in this country than I do the men's game - all the salient points have been mentioned in these six pages.
 
Also, I won't be at all surprised if Saturday's crowd at NHS is bigger still, after tonight's effort. Needless to say, speaking as someone celebrating 21 years' involvement in NZ women's football this year, I'm absolutely chuffed as with that figure!   I know the FIFA folk are thrilled to bits with it!
 
 
Cheers,
 
JR
NZ's women's soccer writer
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

big ups all round
I like tautologies because I like them.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Best game of football I have watched in years.  I went to the game, crowd was awesome, the skill level of both teams was great and the drama made it such an exciting match.  Really impressed with our two quick strikers, our captain and right back.  It was great to watch a New Zealand team take it to another side.  I'm so used to watching us defend for 80% of the match!  I'm definatley going on Saturday.  And if the girls do read these comments I know they will be disappointed they didn't get a result but please get your heads up and carry on in that manner and i'm sure you will do well against Denmark and Columbia.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Great night all round.
Something about a FIFA tournament that gives you a reel buzz.
Great attitude from both sides and really hope that some of our netball obseessed female atheletes saw this and are convinced to have a crack at a game that is played by more than two countries.
Thought that Bridget Armstrong at the back was outstanding - must be something in the genes.
Off to NHS now for Colombia v Denmark and then off to Hamilton tomorrow for double header.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
That was a very good game, surprised me. And wow they get bigger crowds than the All Whites.

Well done ladies.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Maybe I'm the only one thats negative (and I must admit I feel bad for being so because they did surprise me) but I don't think they played as well as people rave about.

In the first half, the Left back Brown and Right back Campbell were getting skinned consistently and Longo played a left half role that may as well have had her standing in the stand for all her involvement. Thankfully that changed in the 2nd half but sometimes they took wrong options and for a team that had been together as long as they have, that did surprise me. I suppose nerves in the 1st half was the main reason so maybe I'm being harsh.

I think why people appreciated this game more and most have alluded to this, is that they just got on with it. No petulance, diving, rolling around injured, time wasting, kicking for touch. They got on with it and played football and it showed with no extra time in the first half (when did that last happen) I can't recall any players doing an RVS or Tim Brown special and leaping in 2 footed (let alone leaving their feet) in fact i don't even recall 1 slide tackle.

Now if we had 9 more players (sans keeper) with the same skill as Longo, we'd be world beaters.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Personally, I appreciated the game not so much due to the lack of petulance and diving etc but for the fact that it was more physical and more skillful than I expected.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Yeah - I would back up comments about physical and skill aspects - lot better than I expected probably because these girls have been playing football all their life.
Also comments re long ball - thought they mixed it up well and played short and to feet when it was appropriate.
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Only managed to catch 15 minutes of the game (frigging work)- but must say that I was pleasantly shocked at the ability of the girls. Had been chatting to a few people about it- and didn't have very high hopes for it- they're so young, and a women's footballing ability is typically not that of a man's (no offense intended). However am happy to eat my words and say that what I saw was fantastic football, great effort girls.
 
One of my flatties who has been to a couple of Nix games said he'd rather watch that game any day over a nix game, so much more free flowing, very skillful and fast (relative to the size of the girls). Top stuff, can't wait for tomorrow!
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over 17 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Have been away from the radio this morning, what has been the response to it on Radio Sport?
And does someone involved with the team have an email address for the team so we can send them good luck messages? Or is it better to start a thread on here and leave them here because I think I read they came on here and read the match thread

www.kiwifromthecouch.blogspot.com

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