CHELSEA teenager Erin Cuthbert and Arsenal midfielder Kim Little proved that size isn’t everything as their late goals eased Scotland to a 3-2 win over New Zealand in Larnaca.
The win got Scotland’s four game Cyprus Cup campaign off to the perfect start – and including two January friendlies against Denmark Anna Signeul’s side are now undefeated in three this year against higher ranked sides.
The game against the Football Ferns looked to be heading for a 1-1 draw until sub Cuthbert and skipper Little scored in the 83rd and 86th minutes. Both assists came from another replacement, Fiona Brown, and the goals were more than enough despite Amber Hearn’s even later header for New Zealand.
The difference in physique between the two teams was noticeable, so it was ironic that the winning goals came from two of the smallest players on the pitch. “As they say, the bigger they are the harder they fall,” said Cuthbert of the New Zealanders.
“There was a big defender marking me for the goal – so after I’d bumped her out of the way I had only one thought in my mind and that was to shoot.”
Scotland took the lead after just nine minutes. A good move down the left resulted in striker Christie Murray slamming a shot off the bar, and from the rebound Jane Ross beat Erin Nayler.
New Zealand equalised 11 minutes later and it was a goal Scotland goalkeeper Shannon Lynn, making her first back-to-back starts, will want to forget. Her intended pass was intercepted by New Zealand’s Rosie White, and the former Liverpool striker scored easily.
Lynn atoned for the error with some good saves as New Zealand pressed strongly for another goal in the second half. The game was changed by a raft of Scotland substitutions, and especially the contributions of Cuthbert and Brown.
New Zealand’s afternoon was summed up by Riley’s diving header coming back off a post just before Little scored.
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