Goals scored abroad provided plenty of interest for New Zealand football fans over the weekend of April 8-10.
On the Friday, Anna Green scored a belter for the Football Ferns as they lost 2-1 to the Matildas after looking certain to win the game with two minutes left.
On Saturday, All Whites striker Chris Wood scored his first goal at St James Park for his Newcastle United club.
The Wellington Phoenix came back from two heavy losses to hammer second placed Western United 4-1.
And on Sunday, the Junior Ferns drew 1-1 with the Young Matildas, thanks to a fine effort by striker Milly Clegg.
Here’s how it all happened …
Chris Wood plays a blinder
All Whites striker Chris Wood was at the centre of all that was good in Newcastle United’s 1-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League.
He was denied a goal by VAR; he laid on chances for others; he was tripped when bursting through on goal, earning a penalty.
With his body language oozing confidence, the 30-year-old Kiwi stepped forward, sent the ‘keeper the wrong way and scored his first goal at home for his new club.
Enjoy the highlights — and keep your eye on Wood!
Click on the image to watch the highlights:
Goal of the weekend
No question — it has to be Anna Green’s goal for the Football Ferns against Australia’s Matildas.
Was it a cross-gone-wrong? Or a carefully placed shot, cureled over the head of Matilda’s goalkeeper Lydia Williams?
Who cares?
Click here for our coverage of the game >>>>
Video replay: Green’s wonder goal for New Zealand
Phoenix bounce back with 4-1 win
After two nasty back-to-back defeats, the Wellington Phoenix badly needed to find winning form and it came with a 4-1 win against second-placed Western United on Saturday.
The three points helped the Nix back into the top six as they push for a place in the play-offs.
Head coach Ufuk Talay surprised United by changing his formation for the game and it paid off big time.
Enjoy the highlights:
Junior Ferns share the honours
Another New Zealand team that needed to quickly put a poor result behind them was the national U-20 women’s team who crashed 5-1 to Australia last week.
On Sunday, they performed much better, fully deserving a 1-1 draw in Canberra.
New Zealand’s goal came from Auckland United’s Milly Clegg who was a handful for the Australia defenders.
Click here for our coverage of the game >>>>
Click on image to watch Milly Clegg’s goal
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