New Zealand were made to work hard as they saw off a tough American Samoa team 3-0 on the final day of Group A action in Round 2 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ Oceania Qualifiers.
Having enjoyed two comfortable victories over Samoa and Solomon Islands respectively, it was a marked difference for the Football Ferns against Amanda Cromwell’s side.
It was a first half low of chances as New Zealand dominated possession but struggled to work a clear sight on goal, restricted to threatening from set pieces and efforts from range.
When the breakthrough did arrive, it was virtue of the penalty spot when referee Mingxin Mu spotting an infringement following a corner.
Kelli Brown stepped up and just about snuck her effort in the corner, despite the best efforts – and a strong hand – from goalkeeper Ayana Kirimasi.
The lead was doubled shortly after the break, when captain Claudia Bunge nodded in at the near post from a corner, as American Samoa’s resistance slowly started to buckle.
Indiah-Paige Riley was brought off the bench by head coach Michael Mayne and certainly made an impact, adding her team’s third goal with a rasping left-footed effort that flashed into the top corner.
New Zealand now head home for a semi-final in Aotearoa as they look to seal their place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™.
American Samoa: 0
New Zealand: 3 (Kelli BROWN (P) 41′, Claudia BUNGE 51′, Indiah-Paige RILEY 71′)
HT: 0-0
Photo Credit: OFC Media via Phototek
Samoa ended their qualifying campaign on a high with a narrow 2-1 win over Solomon Islands in an entertaining contest.
Only pride was at stake for both sides, having already been eliminated from contention for the semi-finals, with Solomon Islands keen to produce a performance to lift the home town crowd.
Malia Jessop opened the scoring for Samoa with just over ten minutes left in the first half, producing a fantastic left-footed effort into the far corner, having been found by a Shylah Balla-ateli cutback.
Ileen Pegi almost levelled for Solomon Islands, forcing Meripa Seumanutafa into a good save, before Sandy Aniholland did the same, with the Samoa stopper tipping her effort over the bar.
The deserved equaliser duly arrived in the 63rd minute, Pegi looping an effort in having been teed up by Teisika Rotoava inside the area.
The parity lasted only a quarter of an hour however. Samoa retaking the lead when Edith Nari stretched to head away a free-kick, only succeeding in lifting the ball over Margaret Kofela and into her own net.
Solomon Islands continued to create chances in the final minutes as they pressed for an equaliser, including rattling the crossbar, but Samoa’s defence was able to hold on and sign off from their campaign with the three points.
Samoa: 2 (Malia JESSOP 36′, Own Goal 78′)
Solomon Islands: 1 (Ileen PEGI 63′)
HT: 1-0
Photo Credit: OFC Media via Phototek