A hat-trick from Jess Saunders has kickstarted New Zealand’s OFC U-16 Women’s Championship title defence in a 5-0 victory over tournament hosts Solomon Islands at the National Stadium in Honiara.
Seeking to maintain their perfect record of having won all seven previous editions of the championship at this year’s tournament, the Young Football Ferns scored four of their five goals in the first half, Saunders adding the fifth and completing her hat-trick late in the game.
The two nations were meeting at the group stage for the third consecutive edition, with New Zealand having won by an identical 5-0 in Apia in 2025.
Saunders was in the thick of the action early, setting up Jessica Ellis for the opener in the fifth minute, before doubling the Ferns advantage with a magnificent direct long range free kick two minutes later.
She added to her early goal of the tournament contender in first half stoppage-time, breaking in-behind and beating Solomon Islands goalkeeper Rose Beui from a one-on-one position for a double. Madeleine Dwyer was the other to get on the scoresheet, sneaking an effort through Beui’s gloves from long range.
Hosting the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship for the first time, the Solomon Islands delivered a much improved defensive display after the break though, keeping New Zealand scoreless for over 45 minutes.
Just as it appeared as if New Zealand would be held scoreless for just the fourth time in a half of football at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship though, Saunders was on hand to tap home her hat-trick from a pass from player of the match Kodi Wilson.
New Zealand: 5 (Jessica ELLIS 5’, Jess SAUNDERS 12’, 45+3’, 90+3′, Madeleine DWYER 18’)
Solomon Islands: 0
HT: 4-0
Earlier in the day, young sensation Adi Reva scored five goals as Fiji overpowered the Cook Islands 11-0 in the opening match of the tournament.
Already capped at senior international level by the Kulas, Reva scored two in the first half and then added three more in the second, propelling Fiji to their largest ever win at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship.
Torika Boseiwaqa had the honor of scoring the first goal of the tournament in just the fifth minute, converting from the penalty spot.
That began a dominant afternoon for Nicola Demaine’s side, Boiseiwaqa scoring a second in the 26th minute, and Esther Vunivi also getting on the scoresheet in the first half. Reva scored the first of her five just after the half-hour mark, poking the ball past opposing goalkeeper Leah Schuster.
She scored her second moments before half-time, and completed her hat-trick in the 50th minute with a header from a corner delivery. Reva then added two more in the final quarter to reach an impressive tally of five, the most ever by a Fijian player in a single OFC U-16 Women’s Championship match.
Half-time substitute Temalesi Masi also made her mark, scoring two goals off the bench, the first of which came just two minutes after entering the pitch. Fellow replacement Elisha Narayan completed the scoring with the last kick of the game.
Returning to the Championship after winning the qualifying tournament in Port Moresby earlier this year, it was a tough baptism for the Cook Islands. They’ll face the Solomon Islands next on Group A’s second matchday at the National Stadium on Wednesday, after the early pacesetters New Zealand and Fiji do battle.
Fiji: 11 (Torika BOSEIWAQA 5’, 26’, Esther VUNIVI 20’, Adi REVA 33’, 45’, 50’, 77’, 85’, Temalesi MASI 47’, 87’, Elisha NARAYAN 90+7’)
Cook Islands: 0
HT: 5-0
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek