New Zealand have beaten New Caledonia 8-0 in their opening game at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship in Fiji.
Melville United’s Laura Bennett led the charge with four goals while Tauranga Moana’s Grace Duncan and Canada-based Keira Tichbon scored two apiece.
The eight-team tournament decides which nation will represent Oceania at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
In Monday’s other group game, Solomon Islands beat Tahiti 2-0.
Main photo: New Zealand’s Piper O’Neill shoots through a packed New Caledonia defence. Photo: Phototek.
Defending champions start with comfortable win
New Zealand eased past New Caledonia 8-0 at HFC Bank Stadium to start their OFC U-16 Women’s Championship defence in style.
While New Caledonia looked to settle into the occasion quicker than the Kiwis, some smart combination play between Pia Vlok and Keira Tichbon carved open the New Caledonia defence in the fifth minute, with Tichbon opening the scoring.
New Caledonia thought they had an equaliser a minute later when Megan Waayer, playing a high line, was caught at the edge of the penalty area, but was spared her blushes when the New Caledonian shot went wide.
New Zealand doubled their advantage in the 12th minute. After Vlok’s initial attempt was saved, Laura Bennett followed it up with a simple tap home from close range.
Grace Duncan made it three, burying a lovely finish past Aben after being teed up by Vlok, who was at the heart of much of New Zealand’s attacking forays in the first period.New Caledonia continued to push for a way back in, with Waayer almost caught off her line again, this time by Kinë Hmaen, whose attempted chip came close to bringing the New Caledonians back into the game, only for it to land over the crossbar.
The Kiwis then began to settle into total control. Vlok showed some lovely skill to create some space in the corner before delivering a cross into the box for an unmarked Bennett, who steered the ball past a diving Aben.
New Zealand rounded off their first-half scoring in the 32nd minute as Duncan and Tichbon combined to secure a second goal of the game for the number seven, whose clever runs had been stretching the New Caledonian defence.
New Caledonia continued to push for a way back into the game right to the half-time whistle, only to be denied by a sliding goal-line save from Taylh Byers.
After some persistence in the penalty area from Kané Dralu, New Caledonia were almost rewarded with a goal, which, on balance, the team deserved, having caused New Zealand some worrying moments during the half.
Bennett completed her hat-trick after half time, running through the New Caledonian defensive lines to slot past Aben, her fourth followed not long after, her shot deflecting in off the far post.
Perhaps the most eye-catching goal of the game was the last to be scored, Grace Duncan unleashing her freekick in the top right corner of the goal to cap a brilliant start to the tournament for the defending champions.
Solomon Islands beat Tahiti in opener
Solomon Islands have made a positive start to their OFC U-16 Women’s Championship campaign after edging Tahiti 2-0 in Suva.
Solomon Islands took the early advantage through Gracester Kini, who bundled the ball into the back of the Tahitian net inside the first three minutes.
Nervy moments in defence for Tahiti followed, as Solomon Islands forward Joy Toby came close to doubling the lead in the 19th minute. After controlling a bouncing ball in the Tahitian penalty area, her shot was denied by a good one-footed save from goalkeeper Kalea Torohia.
Kini could have had a second but narrowly missed with a lovely looping half-volley in the 37th minute, which ended up curling away from Torohia’s goal.
She marked herself as a player with an eye for the spectacular as she tried again from the other side of the penalty area a minute later, but like her last shot, it was high and wide.
Torohia came to Tahiti’s rescue a minute before half time, diving acrobatically to deny Toby from a sharp angle.
Tahiti came out determined in the second half, with captain Maerehia Dehors leading by example with a powerful driven shot shortly after the restart that Fiona Goroani did well to hold on to.
The game was begging for a second goal — for both sides.
A corner from Ravenui Warren just missed the head of Anikua Nekrouf; a minute later, Solomon Islands failed to take advantage of a loose ball in a crowded Tahitian penalty area.
In the end, Solomon Islands’ dogged attacks resulted in their lead doubled.
Anna Ellen’s floated her free kick into the box for Brenda Areni, who planted the ball beyond Torohia to secure the result for Solomon Islands.
Tahiti will look to rebound against New Zealand in their next Group B match on Thursday, while the Solomon Islands will face New Caledonia.
Acknowledgement
We thank OFC Media for providing information for this story.
Results
Games played on September 9, 2024
Group B
New Zealand 8 (Keira Tichbon 5′, 32′, Laura Bennett 12′, 28′, 57′, 69′, Grace Duncan 22′, 77′)
New Caledonia 0
Tahiti 0
Solomon Islands 2 (Gracester Kini 5′, Brenda Areni 71′)
Fixtures
Games to be played on September 12, 2024
Group B
New Zealand v Tahiti
HFC Bank Stadium,Suva, 12pm (NZT)
Solomon Islands v New Caledonia
HFC Bank Stadium,Suva, 3pm (NZT)
Games to be played on September 15, 2024
Group B
New Zealand v Solomon Islands
HFC Bank Stadium,Suva, 12pm (NZT)
New Caledonia v Tahiti
HFC Bank Stadium,Suva, 3pm (NZT)
This story was first published on September 9, 2024.
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