France oust NZ

By MELTON PAIS
FRANCE scored a crucial win in their final group C match, beating New Zealand 2-0 at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby yesterday.
The win earned them a quarter-final berth as they drew level on five points with the US after the Americans drew against Ghana.
France captain and player-of-the-match Delphine Cascarino was said after yesterday’s result they hoped to reach the final.
“I am very proud of my team. I now hope that we will go as far as the tournament takes us because our goal is to win,” Cascarino said.
“I am very proud to be the captain of this team. We were always patient and played the game to our best.
“It is a great boost for our campaign that we have won our final game.”
Forward Marie-Chartlotte Leger scored for the French in the first-half to lift their confidence and keep their hopes for the quarter-finals alive.
Just two minutes into the second-half, Clara Mateo scored their second to seal the game.
New Zeland coach Leon Birnie conceded that their opponents were the better side.
“We had a successful tournament but we knew that coming against France and USA was going to be tough as both of them are quality sides,” Birnie said.