Football Ferns remain upbeat

By: Brenton Vannisselroy | Football News | Thursday July 26 2012 7:43

The New Zealand women's football team is trying to remain upbeat after a disappointing start to the London Olympics.

The Football Ferns have lost 1-nil to Great Britain in the opening act of the Games in Cardiff.

Football Ferns coach Tony Readings says his side was devastated immediately following the match.

"I think what it would do and we've shown time and time again is when we get these defeats it just sparks new life into the players and they're even more determined so we just move forward now to the Brazil game and start prepping and planning for that."

Readings says they failed to capitalise on their early dominance.

"I think maybe if we could have scored in the first 20-25 minutes when we were on top I think the game could have taken a different route, but we didn't so we need to learn from that and take advantage of phases in the game when we were on top."

He says they should have defended it better.

"What you can't do when you play against teams of this quality is give free kicks away in that region to start off with, I mean we need to look at the footage again to see exactly what we could have done better, it feel like the ball did go in the net quite easily."

New Zealand striker Sarah Gregorius also missed a gilt-edged goal scoring opportunity with 20 minutes remaining when she was one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

The Football Ferns will remain in Cardiff ahead of their second group match against Brazil.

Photo: Photosport

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