The New Zealand women's under 20 football team has scored a 2-2 draw with Japan to get them within touching distance of a quarter-final berth at the Fifa World Cup in Japan.
Following Sunday's opening 2-1 win over Switzerland the draw takes New Zealand to four points - behind Group A leaders Japan on goal difference - and needing a draw against Mexico on Sunday in Kobe to reach the knockout stages for the first time at an women's age group FIFA event.
New Zealand were under the screw for long periods but a combination of confidence from two early goals, desperate defence, world class goalkeeping and the ability to vary their style of play in the brief periods in possession got the Junior Ferns across the line for what may yet prove a very valuable point.
New Zealand raced to a shock 2-0 lead within the opening 15 minutes against one of the pre-tournament favourites with Hannah Wilkinson involved in both goals.
New Zealand coach Aaron McFarland said the memory of a 6-0 defeat for many of the squad's players against Japan in the 2010 U-17 Women's World Cup and his own experience of losing a knockout fixture by the same score in the men's U-17 tournament last year made today's result even more significant.
McFarland lauded the effort of all his players but reserved special praise for his goal scoring captain Rosie White and goalie Erin Nayler.
