College Sport Media
  • Home
  • About
  • Love what we do?
  • Articles
    • Athletics/XC
    • Bike
    • Bowls
    • Boxing
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Netball
    • Rowing
    • Rugby League
    • Rugby Union
    • Sailing
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo
    • Weight Lifting
    • Other
  • Videos!
  • Advertise with CSM
  • History of National Events
  • NZ Schools Rugby
    • NZS 2017
    • NZS 2015
    • NZS 2014
    • NZS 2013
    • NZS 2012
    • NZS 2011
    • NZS 2010
    • NZS 2009
    • NZS 2008
    • NZS 2007
    • NZS 2006
    • NZS 2005
    • NZS 2004
    • NZS 2003
    • NZS 2002
    • NZS 2001
    • NZS 2000
    • NZS 1999
    • NZS 1998
    • NZS 1997
    • NZS 1996
    • NZS 1995
    • NZS 1994/95 Tour
    • NZS 1994
    • NZS 1993
    • NZS 1992
    • NZS 1991
    • NZS 1990
    • NZS 1989
    • NZS 1988
    • NZS 1987
    • NZS 1986
    • NZS 1985
    • NZS 1984/85 Tour
    • NZS 1984
    • NZS 1983
    • NZS 1982
    • NZS 1981
    • NZS 1980
    • NZS 1979
    • NZS 1978
    • NZ Schools Stats
  • Index of Articles
  • Partners
  • Youth Olympics 2018,2020
  • Emerging Talent
  • College Rugby Draws
  • Home
  • About
  • Love what we do?
  • Articles
    • Athletics/XC
    • Bike
    • Bowls
    • Boxing
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Netball
    • Rowing
    • Rugby League
    • Rugby Union
    • Sailing
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo
    • Weight Lifting
    • Other
  • Videos!
  • Advertise with CSM
  • History of National Events
  • NZ Schools Rugby
    • NZS 2017
    • NZS 2015
    • NZS 2014
    • NZS 2013
    • NZS 2012
    • NZS 2011
    • NZS 2010
    • NZS 2009
    • NZS 2008
    • NZS 2007
    • NZS 2006
    • NZS 2005
    • NZS 2004
    • NZS 2003
    • NZS 2002
    • NZS 2001
    • NZS 2000
    • NZS 1999
    • NZS 1998
    • NZS 1997
    • NZS 1996
    • NZS 1995
    • NZS 1994/95 Tour
    • NZS 1994
    • NZS 1993
    • NZS 1992
    • NZS 1991
    • NZS 1990
    • NZS 1989
    • NZS 1988
    • NZS 1987
    • NZS 1986
    • NZS 1985
    • NZS 1984/85 Tour
    • NZS 1984
    • NZS 1983
    • NZS 1982
    • NZS 1981
    • NZS 1980
    • NZS 1979
    • NZS 1978
    • NZ Schools Stats
  • Index of Articles
  • Partners
  • Youth Olympics 2018,2020
  • Emerging Talent
  • College Rugby Draws
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

2/12/2018

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – NZ claim bronze medal

Picture
​New Zealand have made history today by claiming the bronze medal at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Canada 2-1 at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo.
 
Leon Birnie’s side became the first New Zealand team to claim a medal at any FIFA tournament.
 
New Zealand got off to a fantastic start when they scored twice in the opening 13 minutes through a Grace Wisnweksi double, but Canada got within striking distance when Lara Kazandjian scored a stunning solo goal in the second half and New Zealand held on for a historic win. Birnie said the bronze medal capped off an incredible tournament for his young team.
 
“Who would have thought?” said Birnie following the game. “We came over here and we had a dream to get out of the group. We made history by doing that and then got into the semi-finals and created more history and now we have just got a bronze medal in a World Cup. How good are these players? Great performance. The first half we were really good and the second half was just pure determination and hanging in there to get that medal.”
 
Birnie thanked everyone who had supported them on their dream run at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay.
 
“We have a few big thanks to make. To all the staff over here, the players, the families and friends who are over here we have had an amazing month. Everyone back home and the support from the football community and media, we appreciate it.” 
 
Captain Aneka Mittendorff said it was a special moment for her team after an incredible tournament.
 
“It feels fantastic,” she said. “We did it, we came third. It is so surreal. We are going to celebrate this win all night long.”
 
The next generation of Football Ferns got off to a perfect start in the windy and fine conditions when Wisnewski scored the fastest goal in the history of the tournament. New Zealand pressed high up the pitch and Canada tried to do too much deep in their own half. Maggie Jenkins turned the ball over and it fell for Wisnewski to tuck home a good finish home at the near post in 16 seconds. Wisnewski’s quick-fire goal broke the record of Nigeria’s Soo Adekwagh who scored in 22 seconds on 30 October 2008.
 
There was more to come from the Oceania champions when Wisnewski doubled the lead in the 12th minute. Amelia Abbott linked with Jenkins who put forward a great through-ball. Wisnewksi showed great composure on the ball and hit a powerful shot to defeat the Canadian keeper Anna Karpenko.
 
The New Zealand team, who defeated Canada 2-1 in the lead-up to the tournament, were off to the perfect start and in control in the bronze medal match.
 
Canada came back into the match and with a strong wind at their back, dominated possession in the first half with 62 percent of the ball. But it did not faze the Kiwi team who defended staunchly at the back. Leat, the Player of the Match in that historic quarterfinal win over Japan, again showed great composure when she when came off her line to deny Canadian captain Jordyn Huitema. Leat had another superb match in goal and New Zealand held a 2-0 at the break.
 
The Kiwis had a chance to put the game to bed early in the second half when an opportunity fell for Wisnewski in the 56th minute.  The 16-year-old from the Hamilton Wanderers came within inches of securing her hat-trick when her left foot shot from close range ricocheted off the left post.
 
Soon after, Canada came back into the match when Kazandjian scored in spectacular fashion. The midfielder dragged the ball onto her favoured left foot and hammered home past Leat in goal.
 
That goal gave Canada huge confidence and they poured forward time and time again in the final 20 minutes. Captain Huitema, Caitlin Shaw and Jayde Riviere all had chances but the Kiwis – led by Hannah Mackay-Wright, Mittendorff and Leat in goal - defended like their lives depended on it and kept them out.
 
History was made. New Zealand were medallists for the first time at a FIFA tournament.
 
Match Details
New Zealand 2 (Grace Wisnewski 1’, 13’) 
Canada 1 (Lara Kazandjian 64’) 
HT: 2-0 

New Zealand: 1. Anna Leat (GK), 2. Mackenzie Barry, 3. Hannah Mackay-Wright, 4. Aneka Mittendorff, 5. Marisa Van Der Meer, 6. Macey Fraser (16. Maya Hahn 55’), 7. Gabi Rennie (13. Britney Cunningham-Lee 74’), 8. Amelia Abbott (18. Rose Luxton 83’), 9. Maggie Jenkins, 10. Grace Wisnewski, 11. Kelli Brown 

Substitutes not used: 12. Jayda Stewart, 14. Laney Strachan, 15. Genevieve Ryan, 17. Ayla Pratt, 19. Arabella Maynard, 20. Georgia Candy (GK), 21. Blair Currie (GK)
Coach: Leon Birnie

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    April 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015

Organisation

College Sport Media is dedicated to telling the story of successful young sportspeople in New Zealand

Use of articles

All rights are reserved for commercial use.
Any Educational Institution or official sports governing body may use material with acknowledgement to College Sport Media 
© COPYRIGHT 2015.-2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.