New Zealand and Utah Royals FC DF Katie Bowen fell to the eighth-ranked Netherlands in their opening match of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup after a last minute stunner gave the Dutch the go ahead goal to secure all three points.
Under recently-appointed Head Coach Tom Sermanni, Bowen started the match in the midfield for the Football Ferns and played the full 90 minutes. Throughout the match Bowen shifted to a more defensive role more, helping to limit the Dutch attack.
After 90 minutes of back-and-forth pressure from both sides with a series of opportunities for both New Zealand and the Netherlands it appeared as if the game would end in a scoreless draw, the second of the tournament, thanks in large to an excellent showing from Bowen and New Zealand’s defense. But, in the second minute of stoppage time, Jill Roord headed one in for the Dutch to lift her team to victory in just their second appearance at the Women’s World Cup.
New Zealand will have to face yet another tough opponent on June 15 at 1:00 p.m. MT in a match that will pit teammates against one another as Bowen and the Football Ferns take on MF Desiree Scott and Canada, the fifth-ranked team in the world. The match can be seen live nationally on FS2.
