Teenage midfielder Emma Pijnenberg has been called into the Football Ferns squad for the first time ahead of their two-match series against Thailand.
The New Zealand U-20 international, who plays for Feyenoord in the top tier of Dutch women’s football, is a replacement for Kate Taylor who was injured in the Wellington Phoenix’s match against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Pijnenberg (19) headed overseas in late 2022 after playing for Auckland club Western Springs, and she made her debut for Feyenoord in the Eredivisie in early March.
She scored her first goal in the competition over Easter weekend.
WATCH: Aucklander Emma Pijnenberg scores debut goal in Dutch first division >>>>
Main photo: Emma Pijnenburg playing for New Zealand at the 2023 OFC U-19 Women’s Championship in Fiji. Photo: Kirk Corrie / Phototek.
The Ferns, rated 28th in the current FIFA rankings, will meet Thailand (#47) at the Apollo Projects Stadium, Ōtautahi Christchurch, on April 6 and 9, 2024.
Fixtures
Game to be played on Saturday April 6, 2024
New Zealand v Thailand
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch, 3pm
Game to be played on Tuesday April 9, 2024
New Zealand v Thailand
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch, 7pm
New Zealand squad
Mackenzie Barry (14 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
CJ Bott (42 caps) Leicester City, England
Katie Bowen (105 caps) Inter Milan, Italy
Claudia Bunge (28 caps) HB Koge, Denmark
Daisy Cleverley (36 caps) HB Koge, Denmark
Victoria Esson (22 caps) Rangers FC, Scotland
Aimee Feinberg-Danieli (0 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Michaela Foster (15 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Macey Fraser (3 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand
Ally Green (11 caps) AGF, Denmark
Jacqui Hand (23 caps) Lewes FC, England
Grace Jale (27 caps) Perth Glory, Australia
Katie Kitching (6 caps) Sunderland AFC, England
Anna Leat (15 caps) Aston Villa FC, England
Meikayla Moore (63 caps) Glasgow City FC, Scotland
Ruby Nathan (5 caps) Canberra United, Australia
Emma Pijnenberg (0 caps) Feyenoord, Netherlands
Gabi Rennie (33 caps) Aland United, Finland
Ali Riley (159 caps) Angel City FC, USA
Indiah-Paige Riley (21 caps) PSV Vrouwen, Netherlands
Paige Satchell (48 caps) London City Lionesses, England
Malia Steinmetz (27 caps) FC Nordsjælland, Denmark
Rebekah Stott (100 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Hannah Wilkinson (122 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Withdrawal
Brianna Edwards (1 cap) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand (personal reasons)
Kate Taylor (15 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, Aotearoa New Zealand (injury)
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