New Zealand have emerged from their toughest pool match at the soccer women's World Cup in Germany with their confidence intact despite a 1-2 loss to Japan today, coach John Herdman said.
The teams were level at halftime after Amber Hearn's 12th minute header cancelled out Yuki Nagasato's sixth minute opener,
But Japanese super sub Mana Iwabuchi won a freekick on the edge of the area, which Aya Miyama duly converted in the 68th minute.
Herdman said his team would fight on: "We'll wash that one away in the shower and have a good cry tonight and wake up tomorrow ready to roll."
Canada-based striker Hearn's bullet header came courtesy of Ottowa Fury teammate Ria Percival's pin-point cross, and left coach Herdman a happy man.
"It was pretty cool - it got us back into the game. I didn't expect it so soon after the (first) goal," he said.
"Amber Hearn is off the mark and hopefully she can be a threat in the coming games."
Hearn's personal satisfaction at scoring was tempered with disappointment at the loss, but she said afterwards the Football Ferns were still targeting their next two pool matches with confidence.
The teams were level at halftime after Amber Hearn's 12th minute header cancelled out Yuki Nagasato's sixth minute opener,
But Japanese super sub Mana Iwabuchi won a freekick on the edge of the area, which Aya Miyama duly converted in the 68th minute.
Herdman said his team would fight on: "We'll wash that one away in the shower and have a good cry tonight and wake up tomorrow ready to roll."
Canada-based striker Hearn's bullet header came courtesy of Ottowa Fury teammate Ria Percival's pin-point cross, and left coach Herdman a happy man. "It was pretty cool - it got us back into the game. I didn't expect it so soon after the (first) goal," he said.
"Amber Hearn is off the mark and hopefully she can be a threat in the coming games."
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