New Zealand secured their place in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship final and earned qualification for next year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with an impressive 8-0 victory over Tonga in the semifinals held in Suva. This win sees them join Samoa, who had already qualified for the finals.
From the beginning, New Zealand showcased their dominance, scoring an early goal by Laura Bennett. Katie Pugh quickly added the second goal, taking advantage of a defensive mistake. Grace Duncan and Pia Vlok contributed to the scoring, bringing the halftime score to 4-0 in favor of New Zealand.
Despite a strong effort from Tonga, New Zealand continued to dominate in the second half. Goals from Kara McGillivray and Charley Marsh increased their lead, followed by a late strike from Derelle Avery. Grace Duncan capped off the match with a precisely placed free-kick, bringing the final score to 8-0 and marking a comprehensive victory for New Zealand.