Tonga and Papua New Guinea got proceedings underway in the opening match of the competition at Mangere Centre Park in Auckland, New Zealand with both sides taking a cautious approach to the encounter.
Most of the action was confined to the mid-section of the pitch, though Papua New Guinea were able to create the odd chance and send a few shots goal-wards. Despite the efforts of both teams, neither was able to break the deadlock and they entered the break scoreless.
The second-half proved a much different affair as Papua New Guinea started to dominate pushing higher and faster. They finally broke through a tiring Tongan defence in the 51 minute as Dinna Awele struck well to beat keeper Tangimausia Ma’afu and give her side the advantage.
A quick counter-attack allowed Talitha Irakau to break through in the 66 minute before substitute Yvonne Gabong slammed home a strike which rattled the net. The fourth and final blow was dealt a short time later when Nicolla Niaman sent on a brilliant strike to secure the victory for her side.
Papua New Guinea coach Rachel Wadunah says she’s happy with the win, and with her side’s performance.
“Coming into the match we agreed that Tonga’s size meant in order to beat them we’d need to use our first touches and our speed to our advantage, so that’s how my girls did well.”
For Tonga coach Penateti Feke her players’ first half performance was heartening, but they let themselves down in the second.
“I think we did very well in the first half so I’m going to push them hard to continue playing as they did in the first half,” she says.
“We had a defensive formation to begin with but we changed it a bit in the second half to try and score and it didn’t pay off on this occasion.”
In game two of the championship’s opening day New Zealand tore apart a young Vanuatu side full of international debutants on their way to securing a 12-0 victory.
Just seven minutes into the match Martine Puketapu – recently back from the Young Football Ferns tour to the USA – latched on to a Laura Merrin corner to tap in behind Vanuatu keeper Samantha Paul at the far post. Striker Emma Rolston was next on the scoreboard with a chip over an advancing Paul. Three successive goals saw the pair complete braces with Lauren Dabner also getting in on the action. Puketapu and Rolston both finished the half with a hat trick each, while Briar Palmer added two of her own to take the Junior Football Ferns into the break with a 9-0 advantage.
Vanuatu returned to the field with a new sense of determination as they kept the Kiwis out for close to 30 minutes before Rolston finally broke through to add a fourth to her tally and taking New Zealand to double digits. Substitutes Jasmine Pereira and Tayla O’Brien added two more goals for the Junior Ferns before the final whistle sounded.
For their part, Vanuatu showed they have some skilful players in their side, beating past the experienced Kiwis on the odd occasion and forcing New Zealand goalkeeper Lily Alfeld into some quick decision-making. However overall the hosts were barely troubled as they controlled the game to their every advantage.
Despite the high-scoring affair, victorious coach Aaron McFarland says the on-field performance wasn’t always a reflection of the game plan which was set going into the match.
“We tried to play to the game plan, but inevitably when you play an international fixture and you’re under the pressure of expectations to win, then some things are lost a wee bit,” he says.
“We improved that in the second half, we fell back into our in-possession shape and were more patient. We didn’t score as many goals but we’ve got to go through that to be able to progress to the next level.”
Vanuatu coach Tom McDonald says the overwhelming experience of international football got the best of his players in the opening 45.
“The first half wasn’t ideal. There were a lot of nerves out there for us playing such tough opposition and we couldn’t hold the ball,” McDonald says.
“The second half we told the girls to relax, take the touch and we did that. We were able to execute a couple of combinations, hold our shape and in the end I’m happy.”
The competition continues on Thursday, 20 February when Match Day 2 action opens with Papua New Guinea taking on Vanuatu at 1pm. Tonga will play New Zealand in the day’s second game which kicks off at 4pm at Mangere Centre Park in Auckland.
Match summary Tonga vs Papua New Guinea, download here
Match summary New Zealand vs Vanuatu , download here
Competition summary – match day 1 , download here

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