The Football Ferns have drawn 1-1 with Zambia in their warm-up game for Paris 2024 at Stade Louis Darragon in Vichy, France.
In a game of good chances for both sides, Milly Clegg carved out the best attack of the first half.
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In the 33rd minute, the 18-year-old Racing Louisville forward rounded keeper Ngambo Musole after a great through ball from Malia Steinmetz, but her shot was saved off the line by a Zambian defender.
It was the African side that finally broke the deadlock early in the second half. A well-taken free kick found the head of defender Rhoda Chileshe, who expertly placed it past Vic Esson in the Ferns' net.
New Zealand continued to create good opportunities and were finally rewarded in the 67th minute when a handball in the Zambian box saw the Ferns awarded a penalty. Katie Kitching stepped up and fired low to the left-hand side to bring the match level.
Three minutes later, the Ferns were centimeters from going in front after a long-range Kate Taylor effort deflected onto the bar.
The Ferns continued to press, with a late chance falling to Milly Clegg in the final 10 minutes of the game, but the close-range shot was well blocked by the Zambian defense.
“I think one of the big things is the way Zambia threatened our defensive line," interim head coach Michael Mayne said.
"That's going to be something that all the teams we face at the Olympics are going to do to us … so I think we can take a lot from that.
"They're a tough team around set plays and they caught us off guard early in the second half, which was disappointing, so we'll have to look at that, but there's plenty we can learn for that first game against Canada and the next ones against Colombia and France.
"We're much better as a team when we're super positive in that middle third and looking to break the line. So I'm pleased in that respect, but we had a word after the game and we need to go back to work pretty quickly and improve individually.
"If we can do that, then as a team we're going to be much better for it.”
New Zealand 1 (Katie Kitching (pen) 67') Zambia 1 (Rhoda Chileshe 49'). HT: 0-0
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