Playmaker Olivia Chance says the Football Ferns need to start turning scoring opportunities into goals as she and her teammates prepare for their second international friendly against Korea Republic.
The match kicks off at Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, at 6pm on Tuesday, with the Ferns anxious to bounce back from their 1-0 loss on Saturday.
READ MORE: Ferns pull up short as Korea Republic win 1-0 in first of two-match series >>>>
Chance, who went closest of the Ferns to scoring when she struck the upright, told NZ Football’s website:
“As a team, it’s about making sure we can continue to create those opportunities. I think we created more than we have in the past. So you’ve got to take the positives from that and build on the performance.
“If you’ve looked at us in the past 10 years you’d say, ‘Oh yeah, they’re great fighters’.
“We work hard, we defend well, we block shots, but that side of the game (goalscoring) is something we need to progress and to inspire, you know, to make it attractive football that people in New Zealand want to watch.
“I think it’s huge for us to score goals and, you know, you win games by scoring goals.
“We’re always going to be strong at the back and we’re going to throw ourselves around, but we need to finish that final bit. And that’s putting it in the back of the net.”
Meanwhile, striker Emma Rolston has been ruled out of Tuesday’s match, after she was substituted early on Saturday with back problems.
Fixture
Game to be played on Tuesday November 15, 2022
New Zealand v Korea Republic
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, 6pm
How to watch
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 1.
Ferns squad
(Club, caps/goals)
Elizabeth Anton; Perth Glory, Australia (14/0)
Mackenzie Barry; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (2/0)
Katie Bowen; Unattached (86/3)
Claudia Bunge; Melbourne Victory FC, Australia (15/0)
Olivia Chance; Celtic FC, Scotland (36/1)
Daisy Cleverley; HB Køge, Denmark (23/2)
Ava Collins; St John’s University, USA (6/0)
Victoria Esson; Rangers FC, Scotland (11/0)
Ally Green; Vålerenga, Norway (2/0)
Betsy Hassett; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (136/14)
Grace Jale; Canberra United, Australia (9/2)
Anna Leat; Aston Villa FC, England (9/0)
Meikayla Moore; Glasgow City FC, Scotland (59/4)
Erin Nayler; Umeå IK, Sweden (78/0)
Gabi Rennie; Arizona State University, USA (17/2)
Ali Riley; Angel City FC, USA (148/2)
Indiah-Paige Riley; Fortuna Hjørring, Denmark (3/0)
Paige Satchell; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (34/2)
Malia Steinmetz; Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia (12/0)
Kate Taylor; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (5/0)
Ashleigh Ward; Southampton FC, England (2/0)
Selected for squad but unavailable for game
READ MORE: Wisnewski and Hand to miss international through injury >>>>
Jacqui Hand; Aland United, Finland (10/1) — knee injury
Grace Wisnewski; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ, (0/0)* — calf tear
Emma Rolston; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (13/6) – back injury
* Debut
More football stories
