Defending champions New Zealand edged closer to a semifinal spot in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship with a strong 5-0 win over Tahiti in Suva.
The Kiwis asserted their dominance from the start, although Tahiti managed to disrupt their rhythm with a solid defensive strategy. The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Pia Vlok took advantage of a defensive error to net the first goal for New Zealand.
Concerns arose for the New Zealand side when midfielder Keira Tichbon suffered a non-contact injury and had to leave the field. Her replacement, Grace Duncan, who had previously earned Player of the Match honors, injected fresh energy into the team’s attack.
As halftime drew near, Holly Robins doubled the lead, capitalizing on a poorly cleared corner kick. Duncan then scored a third goal with a beautifully taken free kick that outwitted Tahitian goalkeeper Kalea Torohia.
In the second half, despite several impressive saves from Torohia, New Zealand continued to apply offensive pressure. Natalie Young and Kya Solomon both found the back of the net, with Solomon scoring the fifth goal from a challenging angle.
With two victories, New Zealand now tops Group B and aims to keep their unbeaten streak intact against the Solomon Islands next.