The Papua New Guineans beat Tonga 4-0 in the opener at North Harbour Stadium this afternoon before New Zealand dispatched the Solomon Islands 10-0.
The two leaders will face off on Wednesday in what could be a crucial match in the round-robin competition with the overall winner going through to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.
Coach Michael Robinson says he was blown away by the performance of his young side.
“When you consider most of these girls are only 14 and 15, this was an outstanding effort and I am delighted with the result,” said Robinson, who is based on the Gold Coast in Australia and has only been with the squad for a few weeks.
“We got a bit excited after we went three goals ahead and lost a bit of discipline but otherwise I am very pleased.”
Papua New Guinea put in a dominant performance, rarely letting the Tongan’s out of their own half.
Georgina Kaikas controlled the midfield and scored the first of her two goals on 27 minutes after making space for herself on the edge of the area and hitting a powerful shot top right which Lesieli Losalu could only palm into her own net. Kaikas, who turned 15 two days ago, followed that up in the 34th minute with another right-foot strike, this time hitting it low across the goalkeeper.
Grace Steven hit the post on 40 minutes but the midfielder was rewarded four minutes later with a well-placed goal to make it three for Papua New Guinea.
Tonga showed better defensive structure in the second half but couldn’t prevent a fourth goal for in the 64th minute through Papua New Guinea stiker Biangka Torobert.
In the other match, the Young Football Ferns claimed their largest ever win for New Zealand at U-17 women’s level with goals to captain Katie Bowen, Kate Loye, Holly Patterson, Olivia Chance, Sivitha Boyce and Brittany Dudley-Smith.
Coach Dave Edmondson is confident his side has the depth to go on and win the championship.
“We had a number of players on the score sheet so that’s obviously pleasing but there are still girls on the bench who could come in for us so that gives us plenty of variety on attack.”
OFC U-17 Women’s Championship New Zealand 2010
12-16 April
North Harbour Stadium
Auckland New Zealand

Match Day 1 Result
Tonga: 0
Papua New Guinea: 4 (Georgina KAIKAS 26’, 33’, Grace STEVEN 43’, Biangka TOROBERT64’)
Half-time: 3-0
Tonga: 20. Lesieli LOSALU (GK), 2. Lisi PAPANI (13. Ana TAKAU 85’), 3. Tania SILAKIVAI, 5. Unaloto TAHITU’A, 6. Pauline TONGA, 7. Malia LOTO’ANIU (11. Fakaafe TAUFA 12’), 8. Buccilea ONGOLEA (Captain), 9. Wendy FEKE, 10. Tolini KOFUTU (12. Victoria MINONETI 68’), 14. Salote KAVEA, 18. Talia KOLOFALE.
Coach: Marc D’AMICI [AUS]
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Papua New Guinea: 18. Wena LAKA (GK), 2. Sandra BIRUM (Captain), 3. Carolyn OBI, 6. Nikita AI, 7. Lavina HOLA, 8. Grace STEVEN, 9. Rose BULUM (17. Yvonne GABONG 80’), 11. Natasha WAA, 12, Alisandra ELIJAH, 15. Biangka ROBERT, 16. Georgina KAIKAS (10. Dina AWELE 72’)
Coach: Michael ROBINSON [AUS]
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil