New Zealand secured their place in the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship final — and qualification for next year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco — with a hard-fought 4-2 win over New Caledonia.
The Kiwis took an early lead when Isla Robson reacted quickest to a loose ball in the penalty area in the 15th minute. New Caledonia, however, steadily grew into the game; Kinë Hmaen registered the visitors’ first shot on target in the 21st minute and then produced a stunning long-range left-foot strike to level at 1-1 in the 29th. Hmaen continued to cause problems and set up Haw Ijelipa just before half-time, only for New Zealand goalkeeper Nienke Lemmens to make a key save to keep the scores level going into the break.
The contest swung early in the second half. Amelia Hitchcock fired a superb 25-metre strike in the 52nd minute to restore New Zealand’s lead, and three minutes later Mia Humphrey capitalised on a right-sided run to finish clinically and put the Kiwis 3-1 up. With greater control of the tempo thereafter, New Zealand saw out the match, with Humphrey adding a late second in the 88th minute. Emmanuelle Buama pulled one back for New Caledonia in injury time, but New Zealand held on.
Alana Gunn’s side will meet Samoa on Thursday in a repeat of last year’s final. New Caledonia go into the third-place playoff against the Solomon Islands. Fiji were eliminated in the pool stages.
Additional comments and context
– This was a stern test for New Zealand: New Caledonia’s early fightback and sustained pressure showed growing competitiveness in the region, and the match highlighted some defensive vulnerabilities New Zealand will want to tighten before the U-17 World Cup.
– Positive takeaways for New Zealand include the impact of Amelia Hitchcock’s long-range quality and Mia Humphrey’s composure in finishing; these attacking options will be valuable in Morocco next year. Nienke Lemmens’ timely saves underlined the importance of experience in goal in close knockout fixtures.
– The result confirms New Zealand’s standing in the OFC but also signals that other nations are closing the gap — useful motivation for development programs across the region.
Suggested headline: New Zealand edge New Caledonia 4-2 to reach OFC U-16 final and clinch U-17 World Cup spot
Suggested tags/keywords for publishing: OFC U-16 Women’s Championship, New Zealand women’s football, FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification, Amelia Hitchcock, Mia Humphrey, New Caledonia
Short summary to use as a lead or social post:
New Zealand beat New Caledonia 4-2 to reach the OFC U-16 final and secure qualification for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. Goals from Isla Robson, Amelia Hitchcock and a brace from Mia Humphrey sealed a hard-earned win after New Caledonia fought back through Kinë Hmaen and late substitute Emmanuelle Buama.
Hopeful angle:
The victory demonstrates New Zealand’s depth and resilience under pressure. With emerging scorers and a dependable goalkeeper, the squad heads to the U-17 World Cup in Morocco with momentum and room to refine an already promising group.
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