The Ford Football Ferns faced a tough challenge in a goalless draw against Morocco during a hard-fought friendly match held in Malaga, Spain. This encounter marked the inaugural meeting between the two teams, with Morocco led by Jorge Vilda, the coach who recently triumphed at the 2023 FIFA World Cup. The Ferns started strong, immediately putting pressure on the Moroccan defense and forcing the goalkeeper into action early on, including a curling effort from Milly Clegg that tested the keeper just outside the box.
However, it was not long before New Zealand's goalkeeper, Vic Esson, found herself in the spotlight. She quickly had to intervene as Morocco launched a threatening attack that could have easily put the Ferns behind. Esson showcased her skills impressively midway through the first half, executing two remarkable diving saves to keep the scoreline level, with one stop being a stunning reaction that saw her palm a powerful long-range shot onto the crossbar. Thanks to her efforts, the teams went into halftime with the match still deadlocked at 0-0.
In the second half, the Ford Football Ferns resumed their offensive strategy, coming close to scoring when Katie Kitching unleashed a powerful shot that struck the crossbar and bounced dangerously near the goal line. Although replays hinted that the ball may have crossed the line, the absence of VAR or goal-line technology meant the officials could not confirm a goal. Deven Jackson attempted to capitalize on the rebound but was unable to convert her header into a score.
Morocco responded with a few attempts of their own, but their shots failed to find the target as the contest progressed into the latter stages. Tensions escalated, and Claudia Bunge received a yellow card for a foul as Morocco mounted a threatening attack in the 78th minute. With fresh substitutes on the pitch, New Zealand pressed hard for a late winner, and in the 84th minute, substitute Jacqui Hand nearly secured the victory but sent her volley over the bar amidst a chaotic situation in the Moroccan penalty area. Despite a valiant effort and an improved performance in this final outing of the international window, the Ford Football Ferns were unable to clinch a victory, resulting in a final score of 0-0.
As reported by nzfootball.co.nz.
