Defending champions New Zealand moved closer to securing a spot in the semifinals of the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship with a decisive 5-0 win over Tahiti in Suva.
New Zealand established their dominance early in the match, although Tahiti initially disrupted their rhythm with a strong defensive strategy. The breakthrough for New Zealand came in the 25th minute when Pia Vlok took advantage of a defensive error to score the opener.
However, New Zealand faced a setback when midfielder Keira Tichbon sustained a non-contact injury, requiring her to leave the game. Her replacement, Grace Duncan, who had previously been named Player of the Match, added energy to the team’s attacking efforts.
As the first half neared its end, Holly Robins extended New Zealand’s lead, capitalizing on a poorly cleared corner kick to score. Duncan then scored a third goal with a beautifully struck free-kick that deflected past Tahitian goalkeeper Kalea Torohia.
In the second half, despite several saves by Torohia, New Zealand continued to apply pressure. Natalie Young and Kya Solomon both contributed to the scoreline, with Solomon skillfully netting the fifth goal from a challenging angle.
With two wins under their belt, the Kiwis now lead Group B and aim to maintain their unbeaten streak in their upcoming match against the Solomon Islands.