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By Ebenezer Bajela.
Head coach of New Zealand women’s senior national team, Jitka Klimková, lamented her side’s lack of grit in their loss to Nigeria in a friendly game played at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya on Turkey’s southern coast on Tuesday.
The Super Falcons played one of their best games in recent times under Randy Waldrum to beat the Football Ferns 3-0 in their second game at the exhibition in Turkey in preparation for the Women’s World Cup which will be co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia from July 20 to August 20.
For half an hour, the Football Ferns looked like the better team before centre back, Onome Ebi, dropped off Michaela Foster and rose to send a header goalwards, just past the dive of New Zealand goalkeeper Vic Esson.
Nigeria added a second four minutes after halftime when Malia Steinmetz didn’t track the run of Onyi Echegini, who met a cross from the right and volleyed home a first-time finish.
Returning Desire Oparanozie outfought Claudia Bunge and finished past Esson, right after the goalkeeper and defender Katie Bowen had made a pair of crucial blocks to hand the Falcons three-goal lead.
Klimková said her team lacked grit against the nine-time Africa champions.
“It was disappointing – specifically in front of the goal,” the coach was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz.
“We were not gritty enough in our defensive third.
“We gave up a goal from a set play, we gave up a goal from a cross.
“Then we were obviously pushing for a better result and we took a risk and went with three centre backs and they got a chance in the last minute and scored.
“For me, the biggest improvement that we need to now look for is our gritty defending in the box and putting bodies on the line – the same way they did.
“How many crosses did they block from our side? How many times did they win those battles in our final third? The critical piece today was really in front of the goals – defensively and in attack.”
She added, “We penetrated more against Iceland and when we were in the final third, we were much more sophisticated and we scored a goal.
“Today (Tuesday) we had some chances and we couldn’t put the ball into the net. That’s down to the decisions that we were making in front of our goal.
“Against Iceland, we were efficient defensively, we were efficient in attack, but not today.”