Defending champions New Zealand moved closer to a spot in the semifinals of the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship with a dominant 5-0 win over Tahiti in Suva.
New Zealand established control from the start, although Tahiti initially managed to disrupt their rhythm with a strong defensive arrangement. The first goal came in the 25th minute when Pia Vlok took advantage of a defensive mistake to open the scoring for New Zealand.
However, the match took a worrying turn for New Zealand when midfielder Keira Tichbon suffered a non-contact injury and had to leave the game. Her replacement, Grace Duncan, who had previously been awarded Player of the Match, injected energy into the offense.
As the first half neared its conclusion, Holly Robins extended New Zealand’s lead by scoring from a poorly cleared corner. Duncan then found the net with a stunning free-kick that left Tahitian goalkeeper Kalea Torohia stranded.
In the second half, despite several impressive saves from Torohia, New Zealand continued to apply pressure. Natalie Young and Kya Solomon each added to the score, with Solomon scoring the fifth goal from a tight angle after a display of skill.
With this win, New Zealand tops Group B with two victories and aims to maintain their unbeaten streak against the Solomon Islands in their next match.