AUCKLAND – Kealia Ohai celebrated her 16th birthday with a brace of goals in USA’s 5-0 win over New Zealand on the second day of Future Stars U-17 women’s football tournament at North Harbour
Stadium on Thursday night.
The striker’s two first half goals guided a polished US outfit to a comfortable win and set up a final day showdown against fellow powerhouse Germany who recorded a 5-1 win over Australia
earlier in the day.
New Zealand now face their trans-Tasman rivals in the final round-robin match to decide third place in the four-team tournament.
Spending long periods chasing the ball, and making little use of possession when they had it, the Young Football Ferns couldn’t compete with a mistake-free performance from a nation that’s won
five of the 11 FIFA trophies at senior, U-20 or Olympic level.
Coach Paul Temple admitted the better team won but saw enough promising signs in the performance of his players as they build towards the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in October-November.
“It’s fair to say we didn’t create a lot going forward and they dominated the game,” said Temple.
“But all the goals came through individual errors, and we can be competitive once we eliminate those mistakes.”
“The important thing is we’re making progress.”
Temple was also quick to give his players top marks for committment to the cause.
“The players were just amazing. All you can ask is that they give everything they have and they all did that.”
Courtney Verloo opened the scoring for the US in the 10th minute and then turned provider for Ohai’s two goals to give the Americans a 3-0 lead at the break.
A Samantha Mewis header extended the lead in 56th minute and Tani Costa completed the scoring four minutes from time when she latched on to a long clearance from goalkeeper Kelsey Wys and defty
lobbed an advancing Charlotte Wood.
For New Zealand, an early Sarah McLaughlin shot was saved by Wys while midfielder Caitlin Campbell sent the Ferns’ best chance whizzing past Wys’ far-post just after halftime.
However their cause was not helped when influential midfielder Rosie White was stretchered off in the 22nd minute with a knee injury that saw her sent to North Shore Hospital’s Accident and
Emergency Department.
The introduction of Lauren Mathis added a spark late in the game but New Zealand could not find a way through the cool-headed American back three of Dunn, Colohan and Harris.
New Zealand’s defensive line-up featured a surprise turn at left back from Hannah Wall and her coach praised the pacy forward’s performance in her unaccustomed new role.
“It’s something we wanted to explore and we tried to think a bit outside the square,” said Temple.
“I asked her to play in a new position and it’s a sign of her attitude she just wanted to do a job for the team – she was outstanding today”
In the early game Germany stormed to a 3-0 lead on the back of classy goals to Svenja Huth, Turid Knaak and Kristine Zumbült before being pegged back to 3-1 with Emily van Egmond’s header on
the stroke of halftime.
A spirted Australia tried valiantly to get back in the game but an Annika Doppler strike and a fine individual effort to Alexandra Popp ensured Germany head into the title-decider against USA
with a second large win under their belts.
Results and standings after the second day of the Future Stars quadrangular at North Harbour Stadium on Thursday:
Germany 5 (Svenja Huth 4, Turid Knaak 26, Kristine Zumbult 33, Annika Doppler 62, Alexandra Popp 81) Australia 1 (Emily van
Egmond 44). Halftime: 3-1.
New Zealand 0 USA 5 (Courtney Verloo 10, Kealia Ohai 24, 31; Samantha Mewis 56, Tani Costa 86). Halftime: 0-3.
Results and standings after the second day of the Future Stars quadrangular at North Harbour Stadium on Thursday:
Germany 5 (Svenja Huth 4, Turid Knaak 26, Kristine Zumbult 33, Annika Doppler 62, Alexandra Popp 81) Australia 1 (Emily van
Egmond 44). Halftime: 3-1.
New Zealand 0 USA 5 (Courtney Verloo 10, Kealia Ohai 24, 31; Samantha Mewis 56, Tani Costa 86). Halftime: 0-3.
Future Stars Standings
|
Team
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts
|
|
USA
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
0
|
11
|
6
|
|
Germany
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
9
|
1
|
8
|
6
|
|
New Zealand
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
9
|
-9
|
0
|
|
Australia
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
11
|
-10
|
0
|
New Zealand v USA
North Harbour Stadium
Thursday, 31 January 6pm
New Zealand: 1-Charlotte Wood (GK), 3-Rebecca Brown, 4-Leah Gallie (2-Anna Fullerton 82), 5-Briony Fisher (Captain), 6-Bridgette Armstrong (14-Jodi Curtis 82), 7-Caitlin
Campbell (18-Lauren Mathis 66), 9-Hannah Wall 10-Annalie Longo, 11-Rosie White (13-Nadia Pearl 22), 17-Jessica Rollings (16-Elise Mamanu-Gray 66), 19-Sarah McLaughlin (21-Lauren Murray
66).
Substitutes not used: 8-Yumi Nguyen, 12-Claudia Crasborn, 15-Gabrielle Kerdemelidis, 20-Danielle McFadyen (GK).
Head coach: Paul Temple.
Cautions: Gallie
USA: 1-Kelsey Wys (GK), 4-Crystal Dunn, 5-Alexis Harris, 6-Cloee Colohan, 7-Olivia Klei, 10-Kealia Ohai, 11-Jenna Richmond (13-Samantha Mewis 46), 12-Erika Tymrak, 14-Mary
Wagner (9-Tani Costa 68), 16-Julia Roberts (8-Kristen Mewis 59), 20-Courtney Verloo.
Substitutes not used: 2-Victoria DiMartino, 3-Amber Brooks, 17-Zakiya Bywaters, 18-Taylor Vancil (GK).
Head coach: Kazbek Tambi.
Germany v Australia
North Harbour Stadium
Thursday, 31 January 3.30pm
Germany: 12-Anna Felicitas Sarholz (GK), 2-Claudia Bujna, 4-Valeria Kleiner, 7-Turid Knaak (6-Marie-Louise Bagehorn 46), 8-Kristine Zumbült (15-Yasmin Pietsch 69), 9-Svenja
Huth (11-Alexandra Popp 74), 10-Tabea Kemme (3-Inka Wesely 54), 13-Julia Debitzki, 14-Laura Vetterlein (5-Carolin Simon 57), 16-Lynn Mester, 18-Annika Doppler.
Substitutes not used: 1-Lisa Schmitz (GK), 17-Isabelle Linden.
Coach: Ralf Peter.
Cautions: Mester
Draw:
Saturday: USA v Germany (3.30pm), New Zealand v Australia (6pm).