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TheKiwis have subsequently booked their place at the FIFA U-17Women’s World CupTM next year, after they proved too muchto handle for the Tongans. They join hosts Morocco,China, Japan, Korea Republic and People’s Republic ofKorea, as well as OFC compatriots Samoa, who qualifiedearlier in the day. Conscious of the physical threatTonga posed, New Zealand hit the ground running, taking anearly lead thanks to Laura Bennett.
She came close todoubling her tally from Grace Duncan’s raking cross, in amoment reminiscent of Kinë Hmaen’s goal against SolomonIslands, but sent her shot just wide. Duncan thought she wasthrough herself minutes later, but was denied by a greatblock from Losaline Tu’utafaiva Katie Pugh added asecond goal for New Zealand in the 12th minute, latchingonto a long ball from Heidi Draai, and taking advantage of afumble to roll the ball into an empty net. For NewZealand’s third goal it was Grace Duncan’s turn to geton the scoresheet, finishing a low cross from close range.
Initially Temaleti Taufa’ao had blocked the winger’sshot, but Duncan held her composure to put the ball away atthe second time of asking. Ten minutes later Pia Vlok madeit 4-0 after Taufa’ao spilled a shot. Despite thescoreline, Tonga didn’t let their heads drop, and wereclearly keen to be the first team this tournament to scoreagainst New Zealand.
When they launched counter attacks theylooked dangerous – case in point when Tyra Bagiante hadthe first breakaway chance for Tonga, but Muller was equalto her shot and deflected the ball out for a corner with aheel. Cienna Filimoeatu then thought she was through,but committed defending from Charley Marsh denied the Tonganforward. Kuria Malohifo’ou held off her defender well tolet rip with a shot herself, but she fired over the crossbarjust before the half-time whistle.
The second-half wasa more reserved affair in front of goal for NewZealand. Kara McGillivray was the next Kiwi on thescoresheet, receiving the ball wide and spying thegoalkeeper off her line, her effort surprised Taufa’aowith a near post top corner finish. On the 70th minuteCharley Marsh added New Zealand’s sixth with a scrappyfinish from a corner Malohifo’ou came the closest tobreaching New Zealand’s defence, dancing around thedefenders on the byline and taking her shot from a narrowangle, only for it to canon off the crossbar before HeidiDraai hooked the ball to safety.
A seventh arrived asthe match headed into stoppage time. Substitute DerelleAvery’s effort from distance fumbled into the net byTongan substitute goalkeeper Makelesi Malafu. Duncanthen grabbed her second and New Zealand’s eighth with afree-kick from the left-hand edge of the penalty box,floating the ball over Malafu and in off the farpost.
New Zealand: 8 (Laura BENNETT 6, Katie PUGH12, Grace DUNCAN 22, 90+3, Pia VLOK 33, KaraMCGILLIVRAY 54, Charley MARCH 70, Derelle AVERY89) Tonga: 0 HT:4-0.
