Teenager Milly Clegg scores first goal in Football Ferns’ loss to Japan
Tuesday, 4 June 2024
At Estadio Nueva Condomina, Murcia: Japan 4 (Maika Hamano 49’, 60’, Aoba Fujino 69’, Remina Chiba 80’) Football Ferns 1 (Milly Clegg 22’). HT: 0-1.
Football Ferns lose second friendly against Japan 4-1.
Teenager Milly Clegg gave New Zealand the lead in the 22nd minute.
The Football Ferns led 1-0 at halftime.
The Football Ferns have fallen to a heavy 4-1 defeat to Japan after leading at halftime in their second international friendly in Spain.
18-year-old Milly Clegg gave New Zealand a shock lead with a sensational individual goal in the 22nd minute.
The Racing Louisville forward was played down the left by Ally Green, cut inside Japan defender Hana Takahashi and then unleashed a fierce shot which beat goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.
It was Clegg’s first goal for New Zealand in just her second start and eighth appearance overall, and showed the cutting edge the Football Ferns have been badly missing.
The introduction of rising star Clegg was one of five changes made by stand-in coach Michael Mayne after the Football Ferns failed to register a single shot in a 2-0 defeat in their first match on Saturday.
“I was lucky enough to be at the Under-17 Women’s World Cup and she also scored there, so I know what she can do in big moments and she was probably unfortunate not to get a second goal as well,” Mayne said.
“She’s done really well and put her hand up to be part of the conversation for the Olympics.”
The Football Ferns were without head coach Jitka Klimková, who had opted to take a leave of absence while an investigation is concluded into an employment related matter on the eve of the tour.
Katie Bowen wore the armband in the second game after regular captain Ali Riley was ruled out with a minor injury.
An upset was brewing when the Football Ferns took the early lead in game two but world No 7 Japan flexed their muscles in the second half, scoring three goals in the space of 20 minutes to seize control.
The introduction of 20-year-old Chelsea forward Maika Hamano changed the game for Japan in the second half.
Brought on at halftime, Hamano scored twice in the space of 15 minutes to snatch the lead from New Zealand.
The flood gates opened when she hit a sweetly timed volley from the edge of the penalty area in the 49th minute.
Her second came after Yui Hasegawa caught the Football Ferns defence napping by chipping the ball over the top for Hamano to run through and score from a quickly taken freekick.
There was no way back for the Football Ferns when Aoba Fujino capitalised on a mistake from goalkeeper Anna Leat to double Japan’s lead in the 69th minute.
Leat lobbed a pass out to right back CJ Bott but it was intercepted by Japan and Fujino spotted the goalkeeper off her line.
Remina Chiba completed the come-from-behind victory for Japan with a fourth goal with 10 minutes to go.
“I’m obviously disappointed with the final result but really pleased with the adjustments we made in game one,” Mayne reflected after fulltime.
“We came into the game and in the first half and really executed the principles we wanted against a very good team.
“To take that lead into halftime was massively positive now we just have to figure out how to turn that into a 90-minute performance.”