Defending champions New Zealand edged closer to a semifinal spot in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship with a decisive 5-0 win over Tahiti in Suva.
The match started with New Zealand showcasing their dominance, although Tahiti managed to disrupt their rhythm with a strong defensive approach early on. The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute when Pia Vlok took advantage of a defensive error to score the first goal for New Zealand.
Things took a worrying turn for New Zealand when midfielder Keira Tichbon sustained a non-contact injury and had to leave the game. Her substitute, Grace Duncan, who had previously been named Player of the Match, injected new energy into the New Zealand attack.
As the first half was coming to a close, Holly Robins extended New Zealand’s lead, capitalizing on a poorly executed corner clearance to score. Duncan then scored the third goal with a beautifully struck free-kick that evaded Tahitian goalkeeper Kalea Torohia.
In the second half, despite several impressive saves from Torohia, New Zealand continued to pose a significant threat. Natalie Young and Kya Solomon completed the scoring, with Solomon’s fifth goal being a clever finish from a tight angle.
With two victories, New Zealand now tops Group B and looks to keep their unbeaten streak alive in their upcoming match against the Solomon Islands.