Penateti Feke led the way for Tonga with a hat-trick in the opening match to help her side to a 4-0 victory over American Samoa while New Zealand’s 8-0 victory included a brace each for Hannah Wall, Rosie White and Liz Milne.
The round-robin tournament will conclude on Monday when American Samoa play Cook Islands before the top of the table clash between Tonga and New Zealand, with the Kiwis needing just a draw to secure Oceania’s sole qualification spot at the world cup.
Tonga will go into the game with confidence after a complete performance on day two. It didn’t take long for Kilifi Uele’s side to go up against American Samoa with Feke firing home from 15 yards in the 11th minute after a precision cross by Mele Soakai from the right.
Feke grabbed her second in the 38th minute from the penalty spot after Soakai had been brought down by a defender inside the box.
Tonga kept the pressure on in the second half but were denied on a number of occasions by American Samoa goalkeeper Sancia Sopoaga who was outstanding throughout. But in the end, Tonga managed to pull away with two late goals; the first from Heilala Lotoaniu in the 89th minute from an acute angle after an incisive run down the left before Feke completed her hat-trick from a similar position in injury time.
In the second match, New Zealand couldn’t find a breakthrough against Cook Islands until the 39th minute when Elise Mamanu-Gray, herself of Cook Islands descent, headered New Zealand into the lead. the
Within 45 seconds Rosie White doubled the score, with a rifled low left foot shot from just outside the box and grabbed her second four minute later by dispossessing a Cook Islands defender 35 metres out, beating another and then the keeper to give the Junior Football Ferns some breathing room at halftime.
White was also involved in the goal of the game 12 minutes into the second half with substitute Sarah McLaughlin threading an incisive through ball for White, who in turn picked out Wilkinson at the back post.
A re-jigged line up saw Wilkinson replaced by fullback Liz Milne as Hannah Wall moved up front and the Wellington-raised pair cashed in with a brace of goals each to finish the scoring.
Wall smashed hers in a devastating two minute spell midway through the half and was denied a hat trick only by the crossbar, while Milne sandwiched those efforts with a goal from her first touch of the game in the 59th minute and a long range cross-cum-shot with a minute remaining.
Tonga vs. American Samoa Match Summary Download PDF
New Zealand vs. Cook Islands Match Summary Download PDF
Competition Summary Download PDF
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