The Football Ferns have shown why they are favourites to win the OFC Women’s Nations Cup after they defeated Fiji 10-0 tonight at the Stade Numa-Daly Magenta in Nouméa.

After watching the NZ U-17 women make history at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay, the Ferns were inspired and delivered a dominant performance to finish top of Group B to set up a semi-final showdown against hosts New Caledonia in Lifou on Wednesday.

Right from the outset, Fiji sat deep and proved difficult to break down. The Ferns used the width of the pitch well and Sarah Morton, Anna Green, Betsy Hassett and Katie Rood, who seemed to play a part in every move going forward, caused the Bula girls all sorts of problems.

Sarah Gregorius scored her second hat-trick of the tournament to move to 31 goals in 87 A Internationals for New Zealand. She is closing in on Wendy Sharpe (34) the second-highest on the all-time scorers’ list for the Football Ferns. The Capital Football captain is the Golden Boot leader for the tournament with six goals.

The World No 20, who beat Tonga (11-0) and the Cook Islands (6-0), were the completely dominant side throughout. The ominous sign for their OFC rivals was the plethora of scoring chances they created. The fact the score line could have been more was indicative of their ascendency. 

The Ferns did not have to wait long for the first goal. On the back of a good ball from Meikayla Moore and cross from Green, Longo did not hesitate with a tidy finish at the near post.

Gregorius added the second soon after when a dangerous ball came in from the right from Morton. Fijian keeper Anaseina Maucuna misread the cross and Gregorius was on hand to tap home. Soon after, Morton turned the ball over and found Rood, who laid it off for Gregorius to finish for her second.

Before the break, Rood put in a good run down the left flank and the ball fell for Longo in the box. The Canterbury United Pride skipper finished well for her second.

Head Coach Tom Sermanni made his first change when midfielder Grace Jale, who has a Fijian father, came on for Longo at half-time.

Shortly after the break, Meikayla Moore was in the middle of the box and headed home powerfully from close range from a Rosie White corner for her second goal for the Football Ferns. In the 58^th minute, Hassett and Green combined nicely on the other side of the pitch. They set Katie Rood free and the Bristol City forward was clinical in front of goal.

The Ferns’ pressure told and in the 70^th minute Rebekah Stott took the ball to the by-line and cut back well for White only for a Fijian defender to turn the ball into her own net.

The match was special for Ria Percival as the 28-year-old from West Ham United brought up a special milestone. The defensive midfielder played her 133^rd A international for New Zealand – the most by any player and to cap the special occasion she was given the captain’s armband.

Percival came off for Stephanie Skilton during the second half and Emma Rolston came on for White in the second half.

Rood continued to have a presence up front and scored a special solo goal with her left – the first brace of her career - before Rolston added her third goal for New Zealand after coming off the bench. Gregorius capped a special performance with her hat-trick on the end of a fine ball from Hassett.

The Ferns will take huge confidence from this performance heading into the semi-finals and look to continue on their track to qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

OFC Women’s Nations Cup
Group B
Fiji 0
New Zealand 10 (Annalie Longo 8’, 38’, Sarah Gregorius 12’, 24’, 88’, Meikayla Moore 54’, Katie Rood 58’, 78’, Own Goal 70’, Emma Rolston 86’)
HT: 0 - 4

New Zealand: 1. Erin Nayler, 2. Ria Percival (c) (17. Stephanie Skilton 62’), 3. Anna Green, 5. Meikayla Moore, 6. Rebekah Stott, 9. Katie Rood, 10. Annalie Longo (18. Grace Jale 46’), 11. Sarah Gregorius, 12. Betsy Hassett, 13. Rosie White (8. Emma Rolston 73’), 15. Sarah Morton

Substitutes not used: 4. CJ Bott, 7. Ali Riley, 14. Katie Bowen, 16. Liz Anton, 19. Paige Satchell, 20. Malia Steinmetz, 21. Victoria Esson (GK), 22. Nadia Olla (GK) 
Coach: Tom Sermanni

Article added: Sunday 25 November 2018