Defending champions New Zealand inched closer to securing a spot in the semifinals of the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship with a dominant 5-0 victory over Tahiti in Suva.
New Zealand took control of the game early on, although Tahiti managed to disrupt their rhythm with a solid defensive strategy. The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Pia Vlok exploited a defensive error to score the first goal for New Zealand.
However, the match took a worrying turn for New Zealand when midfielder Keira Tichbon sustained a non-contact injury and had to leave the field. Her substitute, Grace Duncan, who had previously earned the Player of the Match title, energized the team’s attack.
As halftime neared, Holly Robins extended New Zealand’s lead, capitalizing on a poorly cleared corner to add the second goal. Duncan then scored the third with a beautifully curved free-kick that slipped past Tahitian goalkeeper Kalea Torohia.
In the second half, even with multiple saves from Torohia, New Zealand kept up the offensive pressure. Natalie Young and Kya Solomon rounded out the scoring, with Solomon showcasing his skill to fire in the fifth goal from a tight angle.
With this victory, New Zealand leads Group B with two wins and aims to keep their unbeaten streak alive against the Solomon Islands in their next match.