OFC – NEW ZEALAND SOUND WARNING TO RIVALS

U-20 Women’s International

NEW ZEALAND WOMEN SOUND WARNING TO U-20 RIVALS

New Zealand sent an ominous signal to their U-20 women’s counterparts with a resounding 16-0 victory over their Group A rivals Tonga at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.

Helen Collins led the charge with four goals, 15-year-old Caitlin Campbell, Sarah Gregorius and skipper Kirsty Yallop notched three a piece, with Katie Hoyle, Petria Rennie and an own goal rounding out the scoring.

It was Tonga’s second defeat in as many matches on their New Zealand tour, having gone down at the hands of Auckland club side Three Kings United on Monday night.

The warning signs were apparent from the kick-off with Yallop’s stinging drive well held by Tongan `keeper Siaila La’akulu. A few moments later La’akulu spilled a free-kick allowing Gregorius to poke the loose ball home. Less than a minute later Gregorious rattled the crossbar as the Tongans struggled to hold onto possession.

A defensive blunder by the Tongan defence allowed the speedy Collins through on goal and the striker made no mistake burying the ball in the back of the net from a square ball from Campbell. Yallop opened her account in the 18th minute with her drive deflecting off Kaati Malua, wrong-footing the `keeper.

Tonga struggled to relieve the constant pressure placed on their back four, and after a series of weak goal kicks, Campbell clipped the crossbar with a long range drive. Campbell then went one better after 25 minutes, before Yallop doubled her tally with a swerving drive that left La’akulu with no chance.

The skipper, playing with a heavily bandaged left wrist after breaking it in Australia, completed her hat-trick with a header from the edge of the penalty area. But this stage Tonga was in damage control, Hoyle added another after 35 minutes, and Collins notched another, blasting into the roof of the net from close range.

A minute later Yallop’s mazy run ended in a perfectly weighted ball into the path of Campbell, who duly rolled the ball into the corner of the goal. Rennie’s enterprising ball down the right flank was rewarded moments before half-time, getting on the end of Collin’s through ball after a neat turn from the 17-year-old striker.

Campbell rounded off the first half scoring with a tap-in to complete her hat-trick after Ria Percival smashed the upright with a thumping drive from the left.

It took New Zealand just six minutes to open the second half scoring, with Collins steaming in at the far post to notch her third, and she nearly had a fourth moments later striking the upright after rounding Tongan replacement `keeper Vaisioa Niukapu.

New Zealand again mounted sustained pressure on the Tongan goal in the early stages of the second spell but were almost caught out by the pace of nippy Penateti Feke on the counterattack. Feke’s foray into the kiwi 18-yard box was the only meaningful attack for the Polynesians, the Tongan skipper had also proved a constant threat against Three Kings United.

Moments after Tonga ventured into the New Zealand penalty area, they were back in familiar territory defending with eleven red shirts in their own half.

After an own goal on the hour mark, and a second for Gregorious five minutes later the match meandered towards fulltime, before Gregorius and Collins rounded out the scoring in the 81st and 82nd minutes respectively.

The two sides will meet again in a week’s time. The 2006 OFC U-20 Women’s Championship kicks off in Apia, Samoa on March 30 and concludes with the winner of the final booking a ticket to Russia and the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Result

New Zealand 16 (Helen Collins (4), Caitlin Campbell (3), Sarah Gregorius (3), Kirtsy Yallop (3), Katie Hoyle, Petria Rennie, OG)

Tonga 0

New Zealand – 1. Aroon Clancy (21. Ashleigh Cox 45′); 2. Hannah Rishworth; 5. Julia Baldwin; 9. Helen Collins; 10. Sarah Gregorius; 11. Kirsty Yallop (4. Maggie Lankshear 45′); 12. Caitlin Campbell (8. Emme Kete 45′); 15. Petria Rennie (16. Emma Harrison 45′); 17. Katie Hoyle (7. Grace Vincent 45′); 19. Ria Percival (18. Sam Selwyn 60′); 20. Annalie Longo

Tonga (from) – 1. Siaila La’akulu; 2. Nasaleti Kalavi; 3. Kaati Malua; 4. Karen Uta’atu; 5. Vaisima Manumu’a; 6. Laura Lolohua; 7. Marion Tuipolotu; 8. Pesalini Lake; 9. Makeleta Fulaumoeta; 10. Penateti Feke; 11. Sela Vaenuku; 12. Halaevlu Aleamotua; 13. Siupaelata Liti; 14. Sala Veamatahau; 15. Toakase Koaneti; 16. Silia Falesiva; 17. Ema Puloka; 20. Vaisioa Niukapu

Referee – Harold Duimstra

Assistant Referee 1 – Ryan Marriott

Assistant Referee 2 – Ed Armstrong

Fourth Official – Brett Marriott