The Football Ferns have bounced back to beat South Korea 2-0 in their second international friendly in Goyang on Wednesday.
Two late goals from substitutes Paige Satchell and Gabi Rennie - both created by stand-out forward Olivia Chance - ensured the Kiwi women were able to end their year on a positive note, after they conceded an early lead to lose 2-1 at the same venue on Saturday.
The win is the first in four games under new coach Jitka Klimkova and snaps their eight-game losing streak. It's also the first time they've got the better of the 18th-ranked Koreans since 1996.
On the wrong side of the possession and territory, the Ferns were able to weather the hosts' frequent attacks through new goalkeeper Vic Esson, who was called on often and early with a series of shots on target.
With the score deadlocked with 10 minutes to play, Klimkova looked to her bench and the introduction of both Satchell and Rennie proved pivotal, injecting an instant dose of attacking momentum.
In the 83rd minute, Chance latched on to a pinpoint long ball from Ashleigh Ward, playing another inside to for Satchell to blast into the top left corner of the net.
A couple of minutes later, Chance delivered an enticing cross to the far post, where Rennie was on hand to scramble the ball past the goalkeeper, sending the Kiwi contingent wild with celebration.
"I'm so glad and so happy and so proud of this team," Klimkova said after the game.
"The way we played, the way we competed, the way we were fighting - that's the Kiwi culture I know."
After squandering a late lead in the opening game against the Koreans, Klimkova praised her side's composure in staying in the contest throughout, with their late adjustments proving the difference.
"It was a game of two halves, just like the first game, but this time our second half was much better," said Klimkova.
"We made really good adjustments, we put our (defensive) block in a little bit lower and we were waiting for those balls coming in,which helped and it opened up more space behind the Koreans, and that's how we scored those two goals."
The victory ensures the Ferns are able to sign off their 2021 international campaign on a high note, as the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on home soil draws ever closer.
New Zealand 2 (Paige Satchell 83’, Gabi Rennie 85’) South Korea 0. HT: 0-0
