Defending champions New Zealand have sealed a semi-final spot at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship with a commanding 5-0 victory over the Solomon Islands in their second Group B outing.
Coach Alana Gunn’s side joins Samoa from Group A in the final four, booking their place with a game to spare.
Main photo credit: OFC Media / Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
The Solomon Islands must now beat Tonga on Saturday to keep their hopes alive.
The winners and runners-up at the championship will qualify to represent Oceania at the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
New Zealand score five to secure semi-final berth
Fresh off a 4-0 win over Tonga, New Zealand dominated early proceedings, though a 14th-minute penalty from Aleesha Tara Gray was denied by Solomon Islands substitute goalkeeper Maria Selestina.
Selestina had been called into action early after starting ‘keeper Fiona Goroani left the field injured in the 5th minute.
Despite sweltering conditions and a few missed chances, New Zealand’s pressure eventually paid off.
Bonnie Rice opened the scoring in the 37th minute, rising high to head in from a well-placed corner.
Amelia Hitchcock nearly doubled the advantage just before halftime, rattling the crossbar with a fierce strike. Moments later, Mia Humphrey pounced on a deflection from Gray to make it 2-0 at the break.
The second half continued in the same vein.
Hitchcock added a third in the 56th minute, capitalising on a spilled high ball.
Lania Fini then broke down the left in the 74th, delivering a powerful cross-shot that evaded Selestina for New Zealand’s fourth.
Charlotte Summers rounded off the scoring in the 83rd minute with a composed far-post header to complete a polished performance.
New Zealand’s starting line-up. Photo credit: OFC Media / Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Tonga score late to stun American Samoa
Tonga have come from behind to claim a crucial 2-1 victory over American Samoa in their second Group B match.
The result keeps Tonga in with a chance of reaching the semi-finals while American Samoa are on the brink of elimination after two straight defeats.
American Samoa, who should have got something out of their opening match against Solomon Islands, started the brighter of the two sides and created a couple of half-chances in the first 10 minutes.
Tonga’s first chance came in the 14th minute when Polini Ta’ofi fired a left-footed effort straight at American Samoa ‘keeper Leila Salausa.
In the 20th minute, American Samoa took the lead through 14-year-old Diamond Joung, who split the defence, showed terrific composure to step off her left foot and rifle a stinging right-footed shot past Temaleti Taufaao in the Tongan goal.
It was no less than the American Samoa side deserved following an enterprising start.
But it also sparked Tonga into action. In the 30th minute, Tonga had a golden opportunity to equalise when captain Sophiana Moala broke through down the right, but her shot was fired straight at Salausa.
India-may Mann then forced a strong save diving to her left from Salausa to push the ball behind for a corner in the 36th minute.
The pressure kept mounting, and Mann made no mistake in first-half injury time. Seeing Salausa off her line, she played a superb chip to level the scores at the break.
Tongan joy at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship. Photo credit: OFC Media / Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Tonga missed a good chance to take the lead in the 65th minute when Salausa brought down Angel Mailangi in the box and referee Malaetala Salanoa pointed to the penalty spot.
Captain Sophiana Moala fired her attempt wide of the left upright.
The decisive goal came in the 85th minute when Emeline Sau pounced on a rebound after the ball had rattled the crossbar to tap home, sending jubilation through the Tongan side.
American Samoa pressed for a late equaliser but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Tonga face a winner-takes-all match against Solomon Islands on Friday for a place in the semi-finals.
Acknowledgement
We thank OFC Media for providing information for this story.
Results
Group B
Games played on Tuesday August 5, 2025 (NZT)
American Samoa 1 (Diamond Joung 20′)
Tonga 2 (India-may Mann 45+2′, Emeline Sau 85′)
New Zealand 5 (Bonnie Rice 37′, Mia Humphrey 45+2′, Amelia Hitchcock 56′, Lania Fini 74′, Charlotte Summer 83′)
Solomon Islands 0
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Fixtures
Games to be played on Thursday August 7, 2025 (NZT)
Group A
New Caledonia v Fiji
Samoa Football HQ, Apia, Samoa, 10am (NZT)
Tahiti v Samoa
Samoa Football HQ, Apia, Samoa, 2pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Friday August 8, 2025 (NZT)
Group B
Tonga v Solomon Islands
Samoa Football HQ, Apia, Samoa, 10am (NZT)
American Samoa v New Zealand
Samoa Football HQ, Apia, Samoa, 2pm (NZT)
Knockout stages
Semi-finals will be played on Monday August 11 (NZT).
Play-offs for 5th and 7th will be played on Tuesday August 12 (NZT).
The play-off for 3rd and the final will be played on Thursday August 14 (NZT).
This story was first published on August 5, 2025.