PNG beat Cook Islands 1-0 to book finals spot against Kiwis

Normal, Sports

PAPUA New Guinea will meet New Zealand in the finals of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup tomorrow for a spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year after edging out the Cook Islands 1-0 yesterday.
In the other semi-final match, New Zealand Football Ferns thrashed the Solomon Islands 8-0.
While New Zealand had an easy run in their campaign, PNG women had a much tougher encounter against the courageous Cooks Islands side.
It was a tense affair as both teams seemed desperate to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
The play sped from end to the other with each side having their chances to find a winner but it was the more experienced Papua New Guineans who managed to do so, with Zeena Limbai bending a corner over stranded goalkeeper Marjorie Toru to hit the back of the net in the 62nd minute for the winning goal.
“We are delighted with the win but we have lost our goalkeeper so I am a bit worried,” coach Francis Moyap said.
“We came here with the thought of going into the final with New Zealand. They are the benchmark for us so we will be proud to face them,” he added.
In the early match, the Solomon Islands will face the Cooks in the playoff for the third spot followed by the final between PNG and New Zealand, who are pre-match favourites for a ticket to the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year.
The match will kick off at 1pm while the final gets underway at 4pm. Both games will take place on the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.