Thea Slatyer celebrates the equalising goal | (Credit: Emily Mogic /TWG) Thea Slatyer celebrates the equalising goal | (Credit: Emily Mogic /TWG)

In all sports the Australia/New Zealand rivalry is an intense one.  In women’s football it is a rivalry Australia comprehensively had the upper hand in.  New Zealand had not defeated Australia since 1994, and on home soil that record stretched back to 1991.

However, on 24 June 2012 that 18 year ascendancy was under grave threat.  

Fielding a W-League heavy side with no less than six debutants (Nicola Bolger, Ashley Brown, Stephanie Catley, Teresa Polias, Hayley Raso and Georgia Yeoman Dale), Australia struggled early against an Olympics bound Football Ferns squad.  On 50 minutes they were eventually punished when Hayley Morwood home Anna Green's cross past Melissa Barbieri into the bottom left-hand corner.

Despite Australia’s best efforts, the scoreline would remain that way until the third minute of extra time when a pin point Ellyse Perry corner was nodded home by long time defender Thea Slayter to the delight of the strong Wollongong crowd.

The second match of the two game series was less dramatic with a Sarah Walsh brace ensuring Australia comfortably defeated the Kiwis.  As well as the debutants the series also saw the return of several capped Matildas including Danielle Brogan, Renee Rollason, Ellie Brush and Caitlin Cooper.

With New Zealand’s stocks rising in international football (they made their first knock-out stage at an international competition at the London Olympics), the streak will end.  Nevertheless as one senior player said, “nobody wants to be THAT team!” and in 2012 the 18 year, 22 game bragging rights remained in tact.