New Zealand emerged victorious in the inaugural OFC Women’s Futsal Nations Cup held in the Solomon Islands, defeating Fiji 7-1 in the final match.
Fiji displayed promise during the first half but struggled to keep up after halftime, allowing New Zealand to assert their dominance and make the final score appear lopsided.
Hannah Kraakman led the Kiwis by scoring the first goal just two minutes into the match. Shortly thereafter, Libby Boobyer scored with a powerful shot from the edge of the box when Fiji’s goalkeeper, Mereoni Tinaimakubuna, came off her line.
As the first half was nearing its end, Fiji managed to score a consolation goal. Koleta Likuculacula found the net with a well-placed left-footed shot, reducing New Zealand’s lead to 2-1.
In the second half, while Fiji continued to push for goals, they encountered relentless pressure from New Zealand. Key contributions came from Tessa Leong, Libby Boobyer, and Jordana Bremner, extending New Zealand’s advantage to 4-1.
Kraakman then netted her second goal in the final minutes, intercepting the ball from Stella Naivalulevu deep in her own half before slotting it past Tinaimakubuna. Shortly after, Dayna Manak added a sixth for New Zealand.
The scoring concluded with an unfortunate own goal by Sofi Diyalowai, who inadvertently redirected Jemma Catherwood’s cross into her own net.
With this triumph, New Zealand not only claimed the title but also secured a spot in the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025, which is set to take place in the Philippines.