The Football Ferns take an 8-0 lead into the match from the first leg held in Whangarei on Saturday.
New Zealad were seeded straight through to the stage two play-off while Papua New Guinea qualified ahead of Tonga, Vanuatu and Samoa in the stage one tournament in Tonga during March.
Tomorrow’s match is hosted by the Papua New Guinea Football Association and kicks off at 2:00pm local time.
Here’s a look at the action that’s in store.
Papua New Guinea vs. New Zealand – 2:00pm Wednesday 4 April
Papua New Guinea face an almost insurmountable challenge to qualify for London 2012 but they still harbour hopes of an upset win on home soil. All 20 squad members are locally-based and have recently completed their second National Women’s Soccer League – a competition that is helping to revolutionise women’s football in OFC’s most populous nation. The new league runs alongside the men’s national league but has its own sponsors, providing Papua New Guinea’s top female players with modest incentives and competitive matches on a regular basis. With most of the squad members involved in the domestic final two weeks ago, fitness should not be an issue for Steven Mune’s side, who will be at full strength. The stifling heat will favour the home team but there is still no denying the fact that they go into this fixture as the clear underdogs.
New Zealand’s Football Ferns have travelled without striker Amber Hearn, who picked up a groin injury in Whangarei, and midfield playmaker Annalie Longo, who started on Saturday but is also omitted as Readings looks to run the rule over other Olympic hopefuls. The pair’s absence could open the door for youngster Rosie White and veteran Hayley Moorwood, who were both instrumental off the bench in the first leg. Readings is likely to try different combinations to maximise the time spent with his overseas-based players but has also stressed the importance of pressing home the advantage and warding off complacency. If history is anything to go by, New Zealand will find the going much tougher in Port Moresby, having been restricted to a 2-0 win there in the sides’ previous Olympic qualifying meeting four years ago.
In their own words
“We have worked to improve certain areas of our game, particularly defending at set plays which we struggled with in the first match. It’s going to be really hot for New Zealand and we’re going to retaliate and pin them down. We’ll also try to play more attacking football and score goals in front of our home crowd.” – Papua New Guinea coach Steven Mune
“Going in with an 8-0 lead means it could be quite easy for us to take our foot off the pedal but we can’t afford to do that. We’ll probably take a look at a few new players and we’re just going to keep looking to improve because we’re running out of time between now and the Olympics.” – New Zealand coach Tony Readings
OFC Women’s Olympic Qualifier Play-off
2nd Leg
PMRL Stadium
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Referee: Norbert HAUATA [TAH]
Assistant referee 1: Michael JOSEPH [VAN]
Assistant referee 2: Noel BERRY [SOL]
4th official: Robinson BANGA [VAN]
Papua New Guinea: [from] 1. Fidelma WATPORE (GK), 2. Aida GEROTA, 3. Kathrina SALAIAU, 4. Linah HONEAKII, 5. Janie NORRIE, 6. Agai MAX, 9. Defney FRANCIS, 10. Barbra MUTA, 11. Esther MUTA, 12. Clare TSUGA, 13. Daisy WINAS, 14. Sandra BIRUM, 15. Deslyne SINIU (c), 16. Georgina KAIKAS, 17. Rumona MORRIS, 18. Zeen LIMBAI, 19. Fatima RAMA, 20. Linda BUNAGA (GK)
Coach: Steven MUNE (PNG)
New Zealand: [from] 1. Jenny BINDON (GK), 2. Ria PERCIVAL, 3. Anna GREEN, 4. Katie HOYLE, 5. Abby ERCEG, 6. Rebecca SMITH (c), 7. Ali RILEY, 8. Hayley MOORWOOD, 10. Sarah GREGORIUS, 11. Kirsty YALLOP, 12. Betsy HASSETT, 13. Rosie WHITE, 14. Holly PATTERSON, 17. Hannah WILKINSON, 20. Rebecca ROLLS (GK), 21. Hannah BROMLEY
Coach: Tony READINGS (ENG)