The top two sides of the competition, New Zealand and Vanuatu, meet in a crucial encounter on Match Day 3, while New Caledonia try to restore some pride against Samoa after breaking records for all the wrong reasons in their last game.
While nothing has gone New Caledonia’s way across their first two games at the 2015 OFC U-20 Women’s Championship, coach Kamali Fitialeata remains optimistic that his team are learning lessons as they go.
An inability to mark players was directly responsible for many of the goals they conceded against New Zealand, and if that doesn’t improve then it is unlikely they will compete against any of the side’s at the Loto-Tonga Soka Centre.
With a fresh batch of injury concerns coming out of their last match they face the real possibility of going into the Samoa game with only 11 fit players, making their task that much harder.
After opening their campaign with a 3-3 draw against Tonga, Samoa coach Leti Tamasese must have wondered whether to laugh or cry.
While they did well to avoid defeat after trailing 2-0 with 30 minutes to go, Samoa battled back to lead 3-2 heading into added time and should have won the game.
Some creative attacking plays were positives to come out of the match, but lapses in concentration cost them dearly against their arch-rivals.
In two previous head-to-head meetings at this competition New Caledonia and Samoa have a win each, with Samoa getting up 3-0 in 2006 and New Caledonia comfortably accounting for them 5-1 in 2012.
In the second match on Monday, New Zealand and Vanuatu meet in a showdown of the only teams without a loss or draw so far.
With that in mind their meeting could be vital to the final outcome of the tournament.
The bye on Saturday came at an ideal time for Vanuatu, who were nursing several niggling injuries after their 4-0 win over New Caledonia on Match Day 1.
The team will be on a high after securing their first ever victory at the OFC U-20 Women’s Championship, but they will need to be even better if they have any chance of toppling the in-form New Zealand.
The Kiwi side scored goals for fun on Match Day 2, breaking their own record for the most goals ever scored in this competition by putting 26 past New Caledonia.
The attacking duo of Emma Rolston and captain Jasmine Pereira are on fire, with 23 goals between them so far. How successful Vanuatu are in marking those two players in particular could go a long way to deciding the result.
The two nations have met twice in the past, with New Zealand winning 11-0 in 2006 and 12-0 last year.
A Vanuatu victory would put them equal with New Zealand on points, but still likely well behind on goal differential, while a New Zealand win would see them go at least five points clear at the top.
Host nation Tonga sit out Match Day 3 with a bye.
Extra information:
New Caledonia v Samoa
Loto-Tonga Soka Centre
Monday 5 October, 2015
Kick-off: 13h
NCLvSAM
Match Officials
Referee: George TIME (SOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Nagarita JIMMY (SOL)
Assistant Referee 2: Avinesh NARAYAN (FIJ)
Fourth Official: Finau VULIVULI (FIJ)
New Caledonia
The players: Goalkeeper Emma Ie spent most of her time on Match Day 2 picking the ball out of her own net, but still managed to pull off some quality saves to stop the scoreline from blowing out even further. When they did manage to get hold of the ball against New Zealand midfielder Isabelle Hace looked handy going forward.
The vital statistics: New Caledonia have leaked 30 points in their opening two matches at the tournament, more than double the tally of any other team.
Coach quote: “We have two players injured from Match Day 2 which makes four from 15, we still have two more matches so it’s going to be difficult. But we came here to learn. Before we left New Caledonia I knew it was going to be incredibly difficult with the players that we had, the staff and the group knew as well.”
Squad list: 1. Emma IE (GK), 2. Christy ARU, 3. Noe VALEFAKAAGA, 4. Marie-Luce TCHACKO, 5. Coralie BRANDAO, 6. Dominique NEXON, 7. Yali HACE, 8. Isabelle HACE, 9. Lyndsay NYIPIE, 10. Josiane AYAWA, 11. Marlory ONIARY, 12. Julie DJAOUA, 14. Cythia POAPEDA, 15. Christiane WHAAP, 20. Noemie TROJANIE (GK)
Absent: 13. Sydney GATHA, 17. Dolores KECINE
Coach: Kamali FITIALEATA (NCL)
Samoa
The players: Captain Matalena Daniells was dominant in the midfield against Tonga and scored Samoa’s final goal of the match. Much of her work went unrewarded on Match Day 2, but is sure to be of value in upcoming games. Left winger Matalena Faasavalu changed the game when she was subbed on after 63 minutes, bringing sheer pace and elusiveness to the Samoa attack.
The vital statistics: On Saturday Samoa became the first team at the 2015 edition OFC U-20 Women’s Championship to come from behind and take points from a game.
Coach quote: “New Caledonia will definitely be a hard side to play next because they will need to win, but we need to win as well so good luck to both teams. We need to work together according to the game plan and then we will do fine.”
Squad list: 1. Katarina AH SUI (GK), 2. Renee ATONIO, 3. Clementina IASIA, 4. Moreva MAMEA, 5. Lagmaina AKARI, 6. Hope SCHUSTER, 7. Shalom FISO, 8 Atonina TANUVASA, 9. Siatuvai IONATANA, 10. Vaaipu MOATAA, Marcella NIELSEN, 12. Liz AH-LAM, 13. Matalena DANIELLS, 14. Epi TAFILI, 15. Matalena FAASAVALU, 16. Melesete AIA, 17. Rosie SCHUSTER, 18. Mariecamilla AH KI, 19. Madeleen AH KI, 20. Kolotita SABINE (GK)
Coach: Leti Tamasese (SAM)
New Zealand v Vanuatu
Monday 5 October, 2015
Kick-off: 15h30
NZLvVAN
Match Officials
Referee: Finau VULIVULI (FIJ)
Assistant Referee 1: Ujwaal MUDLIAR (FIJ)
Assistant Referee 2: Bernard MUTUKERA (SOL)
Fourth Official: Amos ANIO (PNG)
New Zealand
The players: The threat of Emma Rolston needs no explaining, while wing Paige Satchell has been another to stand out so far, combining pure speed down the flank with quality crossing and finishing.
The vital statistics: After the 26-0 romp of New Caledonia Leon Birnie’s side have now scored 41 goals in their first two games at the competition. Their work at the other end has been just as impressive, conceding none and hardly even requiring their keeper to make a save.
Coach quote: “We watched Vanuatu on Thursday so have done a little bit of homework on them. It is more about us and how we play. We are trying to evolve this team moving forward in the tournament and if we qualify, post tournament.”
Squad list: Tessa NICOL (GK), 2. Sarah MORTON, 3. Geena GROSS, 4. Elizabeth ANTON, 5. Eileish HAYES, 7. Isabella COOMBES, 8. Jasmine PEREIRA, 10. Daisy CLEVERLEY, 11. Emma ROLSTON, 12. Sophie STEWART-HOBBS, 13. Paige SATCHELL, 14. Isabella RICHARDS, 15. Michaela ROBERTSON, 16. Jade PARRIS, 15. Samantha MURRELL, 18. Emma MAIN, 19. Amber PHILLIPS, 20. Grace JALE, 21. Una FOYLE (GK)
Coach: Leon Birnie (NZL)
Vanuatu
The players: Forward Monica Melteviel was influential in Vanuatu’s Match Day 1 victory, scoring the opening goal and working hard across both sides of the park. Considering who they are up against goalkeeper Melody Tate might well be the most important player on the park for Vanuatu, and she comes off a solid first game where she kept a clean sheet.
The vital statistics: Vanuatu’s four goals against New Caledonia was the most they have ever scored at the OFC U-20 Women’s Championship. When they competed last year they failed to net a single goal, while in 2006 they managed score one in each of their games against the Solomon Islands and Tonga.
Coach quote: “We have learned a lot from our first game that we need to work on. We must take note for the next game, which could be interesting because it is against the defending champions. We will try to organise the team to mak
e sure we put in our best performance against them.”
Squad list: 1. Melody TATE (GK), 2. Daina KALOPONG, 3. Monica MELTEVIEL, 4. Jasmina TAKARO, 5. Louisa KALPRAM, 6. Nadine KILETEIR, 7. Brenda ANIS, 8. Emilia TARAVAKI, 9. Priscilla CHARLEY, 10. Paulieana MANWO, 12. Dilisa YEOYER, 13. Cllemontine SENIS, 14. Keren COULON, 15. Rina BATICK, 16. Eva BOE, 17. Julie-Rose NASSE, 18. Johnita WILLIE, 19. Delphine KALMET, 20. Noela BAKOKOTO (GK), 21. Elmah AIJIBI
Coach: Joel RARUA (VAN)

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