New Zealand have come agonisingly close to securing a hard-earned point in their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup opener, only for Japan to snatch a 2-1 victory with a late penalty in Lodz, Poland.
The Junior Football Ferns showed resilience to fight their way back into the Group D contest, with substitute Lily Brazendale levelling in the 59th minute after meeting Pia Vlok’s driven ball across goal and finishing confidently from close range.
But with New Zealand under sustained pressure in the closing stages, goalkeeper Brooke Neary who had been outstanding throughout was adjudged to have brought down a Japanese attacker in the 85th minute. After a lengthy review, Japan were awarded a penalty, and Miyu Matsunaga kept her composure to convert from the spot and decide the match.
Japan had enjoyed the better of a goalless first half, forcing Neary into a string of important saves, before taking the lead five minutes after the restart when Matsunaga headed home.
The statistics underlined Japan’s attacking threat, with 29 shots, 10 on target, while New Zealand were limited to three attempts.
Despite the defeat, New Zealand coach Callum Holmes found positives in a committed defensive display against one of the tournament favourites.
“I think it’s a really cruel way to lose the game at the end. Now we’ve just got to go again,” Holmes said.
“We did a lot of defending. Japan are very good with the ball.”
“We need to rest and recover, and get ready for Italy, which is going to be a very tough game.”
The performance also represented a notable step forward from the last U-20 Women’s World Cup meeting between the two nations, when Japan won 7-0 in 2024.
New Zealand will look to respond in their second Group D match against The Italians on Thursday morning, who upset the USA 2-1 in their opening match.
Oceania’s second representative, New Caledonia, opens its campaign against China overnight in Sosnowiec.
JAPAN 2 (Miyu MATSUNAGA 50’ 90+2’)
NEW ZEALAND 1 (Lily BRAZENDALE 58’)
(Photo Credit FIFA via Getty Images)