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Nayler wants win to mark 50th Ferns cap

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 19 Sep 2017, 4:52PM
Goalkeeper Erin Nayler will get her 50th cap for the Football Ferns on Wednesday (Photosport)
Goalkeeper Erin Nayler will get her 50th cap for the Football Ferns on Wednesday (Photosport)

Nayler wants win to mark 50th Ferns cap

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 19 Sep 2017, 4:52PM

Goalkeeper Erin Nayler is poised to bring up her 50th appearance for the Football Ferns when they meet the world No.1 United States team in Cincinnati on Wednesday.

Still only 25 years old, the athletic custodian is scheduled to join teammates Annalie Longo and Betsy Hassett in achieving a significant milestone on the two- match tour.

Longo and Hassett both received their 100th cap in the 3-1 loss that opened the tour in Denver.

"It's crazy to think that I've played almost 50 games already," Nayler said.

"It's gone so quickly and I've got so many memories - the big events such as the World Cup and Olympics have been really exciting times."

It was during one of those matches that Nayler made what she considers to be the most important save of her career to date.

"I'd say it would have to be at the Olympics against Colombia. It was the last minute of the game and I had to make the save to keep it at 1-0 to us," she recalls.

That vital stop may soon have competition for top spot if the Ferns can pull off a shock result against the US, who top the world rankings and are the reigning Women's World Cup champions.

Any such success would need to be built on an outstanding defensive showing, requiring Nayler to exhibit the full range of her abilities.

She was far from tested to the limit in the previous match though, despite having to pick the ball out of her net on three occasions after clinical US finishes.

Football Ferns coach Tony Readings wants to build on the positive signs shown in that game, and Nayler is relishing the chance to have another crack at the world's best.

"We don't have much time to change too much but I think we'll really look to take it to the US again," she said.

"We need to play our game and stick to the game plan and hopefully get a result against them this time."

 

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