SYDNEY - New Zealand's soccer women extended their losing streak against Australia to 16 matches, kicking off their Olympics buildup with a creditable 0-1 defeat here today.
A 36th-minute header to Australia's Leena Khamis settled an even contest at North Sydney Oval as New Zealand embark on afive-match preparation for their Games opener against Japan in China on August 6.
The Football Ferns had the better of the second half in an encouraging performance, but their finishing let them down as they tried to break a run of transtasman losses stretching back to 1994.
The closest they got to an equaliser was when captain Hayley Moorwood slammed a shot into the side netting from their first corner, 10 minutes after the break.
American based Stanford University midfielder Ali Riley created several chances down the right and forced a flurry of second half corners, but the Matildas' solid defence was enough to keep a clean sheet.
The hosts dominated the first half, despite only having returned from China yesterday after suffering a 0-5 defeat.
Khamis scored from a free kick only to be called back for offside, but she made amends three minutes later when a ball bounced in the New Zealand penalty area, goalkeeper Jenny Bindon was drawn off her line and Khamis beat her to the header.
There was plenty of physicality in the Ferns' defence, with Anna Green and Rebecca Smith both booked for heavy challenges in a second half where they allowed the hosts few scoring chances.
The Matildas, who missed Olympic qualification from the tougher Asian group, farewelled veteran Dianne Alagich who called time on a 12-year international career.
The Ferns now head to Asia for two matches against China, along with Canada and Singapore, before taking on a tough Olympic group including Japan, Norway and the United States.
