New Zealand confidently clinched a place in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship final and secured a spot in the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup by defeating Tonga 8-0 in the semifinals held in Suva.
With this victory, New Zealand joins Samoa, who had already qualified for the finals earlier in the tournament.
From the onset, New Zealand showcased their strength, scoring an early goal through Laura Bennett. Katie Pugh quickly added a second goal by taking advantage of a defensive lapse. By halftime, Grace Duncan and Pia Vlok had each found the net, bringing the score to 4-0.
Despite Tonga’s determined efforts, New Zealand maintained their offensive momentum in the second half. Goals from Kara McGillivray and Charley Marsh further increased their lead, while Derelle Avery contributed a late goal to the total. Grace Duncan capped off the scoring with a precise free-kick, bringing the final score to 8-0 and securing a dominant victory for New Zealand.