New Zealand has secured a place in the final of the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship and a spot in next year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup following an impressive 8-0 victory over Tonga in the semifinals held in Suva today. This win puts them alongside Samoa, who qualified previously for the finals.
From the start of the match, New Zealand demonstrated their superiority, scoring early with a goal from Laura Bennett. Katie Pugh quickly added another after capitalizing on a defensive mistake, making it 2-0. Grace Duncan and Pia Vlok contributed further goals, bringing the halftime score to 4-0.
Tonga fought hard, but New Zealand maintained their momentum in the second half. Goals from Kara McGillivray and Charley Marsh widened the lead, while Derelle Avery scored late in the game. Duncan capped off the scoring with a beautifully placed free-kick, concluding the match at 8-0 and securing a decisive victory for New Zealand.