Women’s U-17s advance to final

The Women’s U-17s secured their spot in the final of the OFC U-17 Women’s Championships on Friday with an 11-0 win over Fiji in Rarotonga.

After finishing top of Group A in the opening phase of the competition with three straight wins, the New Zealand side continued that good form in the opening half of the knockout match, holding a 7-0 halftime advantage.

Hannah Blake opened the scoring in the eighth minute with her 10th goal of the tournament before Sarah Kyrstman made it 2-0 five minutes later with a tap in at the back post.
A Fiji own goal increased the New Zealand lead to 3-0 at the 25 minute mark before a burst of four goals shortly before halftime bloated the margin at the interval.

Emma Main scored twice in that 10 minute span while Blake and Jacqui Hand also found the back of the Fiji net.

After the break, second half substitute Samantha Tawharu made it 8-0 with a left-footed effort in the 70th minute while Hand grabbed her second of the day six minutes later for a 9-0 advantage.

Tawharu struck her second in the 88th minute for 10-0 before Hand completed her second hat-trick of the tournament with a goal in stoppage time to finish the scoring.

New Zealand will meet the winner of the second semi-final between Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia kicking off at 4pm (NZ time) on Friday. The final is scheduled for Sunday 24 January at 4pm (NZ time).

The winner of the tournament qualifies for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan in October.
OFC U-17 Women’s Championships – Semi-Final
Friday 22 January

New Zealand 11-0 Fiji (half: 7-0)
NZL: Hannah Blake 8’, 45+1’, Sarah Krystman 13’, OG 25’, Emma Main 42’, 45+7’, Jacqui Hand 45+4’, 76’, 90+4', Samantha Tawharu 70’, 88’

New Zealand: 12. Nadia Olla (GK), 3. Amber Phillips, 5. Michaela Foster, 6. Nicole Mettam, 7. Hannah Blake (9. Samantha Tawharu 46’), 10. Sarah Krystman, 11. Jacqueline Hand, 13. Kate Williams (14. Rebecca Lake 80’), 15. Francesca Grange, 17. Emma Main, 18. Gabrielle Jillings (16. Alosi Bloomfield 46’)
Substitutes not used: 1. Anna Leat (GK), 2. Claudia Bunge, 4. Ally Toailoa, 8. Malia Steinmetz, 19. Maggie Jenkins
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Coach: Gareth Turnbull

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