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

TONGA UPSET HOSTS TO REACH U-20 FINAL
New Zealand continue winning ways
Tonga caused a major boil over in sizzling
Samoa by pipping the hosts 3-2 to reach the
final of the OFC U-20 Women's Championship.
It wouldn’t be the fairytale final that many
predicted as the tournament progressed as Kilifi
Ueles' Tongans victory meant they would meet
New Zealand for a place at the 2006 FIFA U-20
Women's World Cup in Russia.
Tonga opened the scoring in the 5th minute when
Karen Utaatu scored from the penalty spot after
Penateti Feke had been chopped down in the
box by Samoan defender Luisa Tagamoa.
But Tonga's lead lasted just six minutes when
Faavae Taumua equalised to send Samoa to
halftime at 1-1.
Samoa starlet Suitupe Tafafa then sent the vocal local crowd into raptures when she made it 2-1 in the 56th minute after beating
outstanding Tonga goalkeeper Siaila Laakulu in a one-one-one situation.
An action replay of Tonga's first goal followed with Feke again brought down in the box by Tagamoa. Utaatu duly converted
from the penalty spot for a second time to equalize in the 61st minute.
After setting up Tonga's first two goals, Feke then scored the winner when she pounced on a defensive mistake by Josephine Ane to
race away and beat Samoan goalkeeper Kalaponi Leato.
New Zealand reached the final with a 5-1 win over Papua New Guinea in the other semi-final. Left winger Caitlin Campbell
scored a hat-trick inside 18 minutes to make the semi final safe for New Zealand. But the Kiwis were placed under pressure when
goalkeeper completely missed a clearing kick to present Jennifer Leo with an open net in the seventh minute.
Captain Kirsty Yallop sent New Zealand to halftime with a 4-1 buffer when she chipped PNG goalkeeper Matilda Tomalin in the
40th minute. Tomalin had to be carried from the pitch after a heavy collision with Yallop just after the Kiwi had fired off her shot.
The second half was a case of hit and miss from New Zealand who had only Ali Riley's stoppage time tap-in to show for 36 shots
on goal.
Tonga would enter the final as overwhelming underdogs after being beaten 16-0 by New Zealand in a warm-up to the World
Cup qualifiers before suffering a 7-0 loss in their Group A match in Apia.
But those results were forgotten as Tonga celebrated their upset over Samoa who had won a pre-tournament friendly between the
sides 2-1.
Match Day 5 results
STORY OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Match Day 5
Semi Final 1
New Zealand 5 (Caitlin Campbell 6, 9, 18; Kirsty Yallop 40, Ali Riley 90) Papua New Guinea 1 (Jennifer Leo 7) (Halftime: 4-1)
Semi Final 2
Samoa 2 (Faavae Taumua 11, Suitupe Tafafa 56) Tonga 3 (Karen Utaatu 5 pen, 67 pen; Penateti Feke 73) (Halftime: 1-1)
Event Report and Statistics– 2006 OFC U-20 Women’s Championship – Samoa 15