An 89th-minute goal from substitute Tayla Christensen has given New Zealand a 1-0 win over Ghana and put them top of Group C at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea.
New Zealand footballer Tayla Christensen. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
After both sides missed several gilt-edged opportunities, it looked like the spoils would be shared in scoreless fashion as the clocked ticked towards additional time at the PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
But striker Christensen had other ideas, showing a cool head just moments after coming on to latch onto a through ball and calmly round goalkeeper Victoria Agyei before slotting the most memorable goal of her young career.
"I'm ecstatic with the girls' performance and am so proud of them," coach Leon Birnie said.
"We spoke about coming here and having to perform for 90 minutes, in the Mexico games leading up to this we only performed for 70 and mentally we switched off. I thought that was the key today, we were mentally strong, showed resilience at times and that kept us in it."
It was no more than New Zealand deserved after an impressive all-round display, although Ghana will be disappointed as they could have likewise taken the points if they had shown Christensen's composure in front of goal.
New Zealand goalkeeper Nadia Olla put on what must be one of the best performances of her career so far, the highlight being a pair of outstanding saves in quick succession late in the first half to keep the match scoreless at the break.
After such an entertaining first half, the second spell didn't quite live up to expectations and there were fewer clear-cut opportunities, although Ghana again could have taken the lead when Olla did well to block a Wasila Diwura-Soale effort at point-blank range in the 72nd minute.
Christensen had come on just seconds earlier as Birnie continued his search for the winner but it was Pereira - another New Zealand player to catch the eye with a commanding display - that almost provided it, the Football Fern doing well to create space for herself wide in the area before fizzing a volley narrowly across the face of goal as full-time approached.
The New Zealand bench all had their faces buried in palms after going so close to taking a late lead but were soon on their feet in rapturous celebration as Christensen did exactly what she had been brought on to do, breaking the hearts of the Black Princesses but putting the Kiwis in a strong position going into their remaining Group C matches against the United States and France.
"It happened so fast so it's hard to describe but I just tried to put it in the back of the net and luckily it went in," Christensen said.
"I'm so happy for the girls, we did so well to pull it off in the end. It was very hot and tiring but we played really well and it was a real team effort."
New Zealand's next match at the PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby is on Thursday night against the United States, who drew 1-1 with France in the day's other Group C game.
