New Zealand to represent Oceania in
China
By MUSARIKE ANANGAI and SAMPSON
BONAI
New Zealand will represent the
Oceania region at September's Women Soccer World Cup in China
after defeating PNG at the Oceania Football qualifiers in Lae on
Friday.
A packed Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium crowd watched the Kiwis grind
out an easy 7-0 victory over the home team.
The Kiwis victory was engineered by four first half goals to
striker Nicole Smith, Zoe Thompson, speedster Ria Percival and
Kirsty Yallop.
They scored a further three goals in the second half through Anna
Green, Yallop and Hayley Moorwood.
In the earlier match Tonga and the Solomon Islands fought out a
nil-all draw.
The results meant PNG finished second, for the first time in these
qualifiers, while Tonga finished third ahead of the Solomon
Islands on goal difference after both teams ended with a point
each from three matches.
Tonga scored one goal and had seven goals posted against them
while the Solomon Islands scored one and let in 14.
Tournament results day one: NZ 6 bt Tonga 1, PNG 6 bt SI 1. Day
two: NZ 8 bt SI 0, PNG 1 bt Tonga 0. Day three: SI 0 drew with
Tonga 0, NZ 7 bt PNG 0.
Seventeen players - 11 of them Kiwis - scored a total of 30 goals
over the three rounds.
Four goals: Nicole Smith (NZ), and Kirsty Yallop (NZ); three
goals: Deslyn Siniu (PNG); two goals: Wendi Henderson (NZ);
Jacqueline Chalau (PNG); Simone Ferrara (NZ); Zoe Thompson (NZ);
Ria Percival (NZ); one goal: Prudence Fula (SI), Vasi Feke
(Tonga), Abby Erceg (NZ), Rebecca Smith (NZ), Emma Kete (NZ), Anna
Green (NZ), Hayley Moorwood (NZ).
Defenders Audrey Galo (SI) and Mele Niukapu (Tonga) both scored
own goals against PNG.
Meanwhile, Tonga held the Solomon Islands to a nil-all draw in
their last game of OFC Women World Cup qualifier at the Sir
Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae last Friday.
Tonga lost their games against PNG, and New Zealand and drew with
the Solomon in their last game to finished third and Solomon
Islands finished fourth in the OFC Women World Cup qualifier.
The draw was a pleasing result to their team manager Atelaite
Tu'ivalala who said they would assess and evaluate the players
performance and prepare a strong team for the coming Pacific Games
in Apia in August.
"It is a tough game against Solomon Islands as they have a strong
side. I'm happy with the results of the game and we should
organize ourselves and prepare for the next qualifier," Tu'ivalala
said.
"I would like to extend our word of appreciation and thanks to PNG
for its kind hospitality for looking after us for one week. We
really enjoyed our stay in this great country with its friendly
people," she said.
Solomon Islands' Noel Wagapu also praised his girls for playing a
strong game despite losing to New Zealand and PNG.
"I'm also pleased with the results of the game as the players are
exposed to international game and had learned a lot from other
countries and will prepare a strong side for SP Games in a few
months time," Wagapu said.
