Defending champions New Zealand edged closer to a semifinal spot in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship after a convincing 5-0 victory against Tahiti in Suva.
New Zealand dominated the match from the start, although Tahiti initially managed to disrupt their rhythm with a strong defensive strategy. The turning point came in the 25th minute when Pia Vlok took advantage of a defensive mistake to score the first goal for New Zealand.
However, the match took a worrying turn for New Zealand when midfielder Keira Tichbon suffered a non-contact injury that forced her to leave the field. Grace Duncan, her replacement and former Player of the Match, injected fresh energy into the attack.
As the first half drew to a close, Holly Robins extended New Zealand’s lead by scoring from a corner that was poorly cleared by Tahiti. Duncan then made her mark by scoring the third goal with a beautifully curved free-kick that left Tahitian goalkeeper Kalea Torohia with no chance.
In the second half, despite several impressive saves from Torohia, New Zealand continued to apply pressure. Natalie Young and Kya Solomon further increased the scoreline, with Solomon skillfully finishing from a tight angle to net the fifth goal.
With this victory, New Zealand is now at the top of Group B with two wins and will aim to keep their unbeaten streak alive in their upcoming match against the Solomon Islands.