NZ draws 2-2 with Mexico in Women’s World Cup
Last-gasp goals from Hannah Wilkinson and captain Rebecca Smith
earned New Zealand a 2-2 draw with Mexico at the Women’s World Cup
on Tuesday.
Wilkinson scored in the fourth minute of injury time, after
Smith pulled one back in the 90th, to deny Mexico its first ever
win at the World Cup.
Stephany Mayor gave Mexico the perfect start when she scored in
the second minute, and Maribel Dominguez made it 2-0 in the
29th.
Mexico needed a high-scoring win and a favor from Japan to make
the last eight, but England’s 2-0 win in the other Group B game
eliminated Mexico.
New Zealand – already out of contention – made a sloppy start at
Rhein-Neckar-Arena, losing the ball in midfield, and Dominguez
needed no further invitation to slip a perfect pass for Mayor to
give Mexico the perfect start.
Dominguez, the Mexico captain, ran on to a pass from Veronica
Perez before curling a wonderful strike past the helpless Jenny
Bindon in goal for Mexico’s second.
New Zealand looked short of ideas going forward and rarely
troubled the Mexican defense.
New Zealand’s Ali Riley earned a corner with a long-range effort
in the 41st, before Anna Green’s 30-meter (yard) free kick was
easily stopped by goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago.
Spurred by pride, New Zealand improved in the second half and
deservedly pulled one back when Smith scored from a corner. It
looked like being no more than a late consolation until Riley
crossed for Wilkinson’s dramatic equalizer.
—
Lineups:
New Zealand: Jenny Bindon, Anna Green, Abby Erceg, Rebecca
Smith, Ali Riley, Betsy Hassett (Ria Percival, 79), Katie Hoyle,
Hayley Moorwood (Kirsty Yallop, 60), Amber Hearn, Rosie White
(Hannah Wilkinson, 55), Sarah Gregorius.
Mexico: Cecilia Santiago, Natalie Vinti, Alina Garciamendez,
Natalie Garcia, Kenti Robles (Luz Del Rosario Saucedo, 81), Nayeli
Rangel (Dinora Garza, 46), Guadalupe Worbis, Monica Ocampo,
Veronica Perez, Stephany Mayor (Charlyn Corral, 70), Maribel
Dominguez.
Referee: Jenny Palmqvist, Sweden.