New Zealand advanced to the final of the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship and secured a place in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after an impressive 8-0 victory over Tonga in the semifinals held in Suva.
This result places New Zealand alongside Samoa, which had secured its spot in the finals earlier.
From the very start, New Zealand demonstrated their strength, scoring an early goal through Laura Bennett. Katie Pugh soon followed suit, taking advantage of a defensive mistake to net the second goal. Grace Duncan and Pia Vlok contributed to the scoreline, leading to a commanding 4-0 lead by halftime.
Despite Tonga’s determined efforts, New Zealand kept up their momentum in the second half. Goals from Kara McGillivray and Charley Marsh further widened the gap, while Derelle Avery added another late in the match. Duncan capped off the dominant performance with a well-executed free-kick, bringing the final score to 8-0.