2006 OFC U-20 Women's Championship Toleafoa JS Blatter Football

KIWIS SEND MESSAGE TO U-20 RIVALS
New Zealand produced the fast start they
desired but not the finish despite thumping
Tonga 7-0 to comfortably top Group A,
while neighbours Vanuatu and the Solomon
Islands drew 1-1 on Match Day 3.
The derby between near neighbours
Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands ended with
honours shared. Layda Samani opened the
scoring after 18 minutes outpacing the
Vanuatu defence before calmly rounding the
'keeper and rolling the ball into the empty
net. Vanuatu responded on the stroke of
half-time in similar fashion through Leisoko
Masauvakalo.
The Solomons had chances to secure the win in the second half, but wayward finishing let them down - not for the first time in the
tournament.
Tonga were content on a damage limitation job at the Toleafoa JS Blatter Football Fields, defending with 10 players behind the
ball, Tonga's defensive ploy could not stop Caitlin Campbell from opening the scoring after just 31 seconds, the left winger neatly
volleying home from the penalty spot after an excellent ball from skipper Kirsty Yallop.
But New Zealand became increasingly frustrated by Tonga's deep defending after Petria Rennie doubled the score in the 13th
minute following a well-weighted cross from Ria Percival. Shot after shot was sprayed high and wide as the Kiwis lacked
composure in the congested penalty area.
Match Day 3 results
STORY OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Match Day 3
Event Report and Statistics– 2006 OFC U-20 Women’s Championship – Samoa 13
New Zealand had to wait till the 41st minute before Yallop
finished a neat one-two with Katie Hoyle. Hoyle's midfield partner
Emma Harrison then made it 4-0 two minutes before halftime when
she rifled a left-footed shot into the right hand corner after being
cleverly set up by Sarah Gregorius.
It was a similar pattern of hit and miss in the second half with
halftime substitute Ali Riley (53rd), Yallop (62nd) and second half
sub Emma Humphries (71st) completing the rout.
New Zealand were guilty of conceding possession too easily but
had the consolation of Humphries scoring her first goal of the
tournament after a series of near misses in the earlier wins over the
Solomon Islands (4-0) and Vanuatu (11-0).
Group A
New Zealand 7 (Caitlin Campbell 1, Petria Rennie 13, Kirsty Yallop 41, 63, Emma Harrison 43, Ali Riley 53, Emma Humphries 71)
Tonga 0 (Halftime 4-0)
Solomon Islands 1 (Layda Samani 18) Vanuatu 1 (Leisoko Masauvakalo 45) (Halftime: 1-1)