New Zealand will play Fiji in Sunday’s final at the inaugural OFC Futsal Women’s Nations Cup to decide who represents Oceania at the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup.
The Futsal Ferns beat Tahiti 6-1 in the final group game to go into the final against Fiji who finished second in the round-robin group with a 6-2 win against hosts Solomon Islands.
Sunday’s final will take place at Honiara’s Friendship Hall stadium at 6pm (NZT) and will be streamed live and free by FIFA+.
Main photo: New Zealand’s Futsal Ferns … one step away from securing a place at the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup. Photo credit: OFC Media / Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Futsal Ferns overcome Tahiti 6-1
A hat-trick from Jemma Catherwood spearheaded New Zealand’s 6-1 win against Tahiti in the sides’ final group game at the tournament.
New Zealand coach Nic Downes’ side were all but assured of a place in Sunday’s final after three wins from their first three matches and a superior goal difference to the others, but needed at least a point to make it a mathematical certainty.
As she did in Thursday’s win over hosts Solomon Islands, captain Hannah Kraakman broke the deadlock inside two minutes, receiving a through ball from Dayna Manak and scrambling the ball past Tahiti goalkeeper Corail Harry from close range.
Tahiti were limited to efforts from distance for most of the opening twenty, with Daniell Bradley was called into action twice, first saving comfortably from Kohai Mai before making an impressive parry to deny Ninauea Hioe.
The Kiwis grabbed a crucial second with a couple of minutes left in the opening period, and it was another scrappy finish.
This time, Manak was the finisher, deflecting in a shot from distance from just in front of the unsighted Harry.
The second half had barely begun when New Zealand made the result safe. With only nine seconds on the clock, Jemma Catherwood added a third, catching Tahiti cold from the restart.
Tahiti’s desperation to find a way back ended up costing them midway through the second half.
Goalkeeper Corail Harry was caught in possession as she added an extra body into the midfield and Jemma Catherwood had the easiest of tasks, rolling the ball into an unguarded net to make it 4-0.
A fifth followed, thanks to good hold-up play by Libby Boobyer. The forward laid off the ball to Jamie Evans who finished past Harry.
Into the final few minutes and with Tahiti pushing for a consolation, New Zealand hit them on the counter-attack and it was Catherwood again, clinching her hat-trick.
The consolation goal eventually arrived and perhaps fittingly, it came from Tahiti’s most impressive performer, Ninauea Hioe, who dribbled past the New Zealand defence before poking her effort beyond substitute ‘keeper Hannah Hegarty.
Catherwood was awarded Player of the Match.
Fiji overcome Solomon Islands to reach final
A first-half blitz by Fiji blew hosts Solomon Islands chances away.
Knowing that a draw would be sufficient to advance following the Kiwis’ win over Tahiti, Fiji settled on an attack-first policy, and raced into a 4-1 lead at the half-time break.
Koleta Likuculacula, one of her team’s standouts in the competition, scored twice in the opening six minutes, the second of which was a thunderous shot that flew into the roof of Joyce Lekani’s net.
The hosts responded well and a minute after conceding their second, halved the arrears with Marley Livah getting on the scoresheet to send the passionate home fans into raptures.
Coach Jerry Sam’s Fiji side — who will be looking to avenge their group stage defeat to New Zealand in the final — dominated the remainder of the first half.
Teenager Sisilia Tuvou Kuladina added a third with a rasping effort from distance before a swift counter-attack saw Cema Nasau break clear, draw Lekani from her line and square for Sofi Diyalowai to tuck into the empty net.
While New Zealand scored nine seconds into their second half against Tahiti, Fiji managed to better that, scoring just seven seconds after the restart.
The impressive Cema Nasau got the goal her performance deserved.
There was still life left in Arthur Barko’s Solomon side however, with an own goal giving them a second and reducing the deficit to three.
The game became more and more open as the minutes ticked down. Cema Nasau came close with a fizzing effort that just cleared the bar, whilst Ileen Pegi – as expected – was the main protagonist for Solomon Islands as they fought valiantly to get back into the match.
The Solomons captain coming close to a third for her side, but her prodded effort from close range was tipped away down low by Fiji ‘keeper Laisa Vuikaba.
Fiji would seal victory and their place in the final with arguably the goal of the tournament so far. The ball was laid back to Aliza Hussein who hammered a first time shot, that flew by Lekani and nestled right in the top corner.
A final date then for Fiji against New Zealand, with Solomon Islands to play in the Playoff for 3rd place against Tahiti.
Acknowledgement
We are grateful for the help of OFC Media in providing information for this story.
Results
Games played on Friday August 23, 2024
OFC Futsal Women’s Nations Cup
New Zealand 6 (Hannah Kraakman 2’, Dayna Manak 17’, Jemma Catherwood 21′, 29′, 37′, Jamie Evans 32′)
Tahiti 1 (Ninauea Hioe 38′)
Solomon Islands 2 (Marley Livah 7’, Own Goal 22′)
Fiji 6 (Koleta Likuculacula 4’, 6’, Sisilia Tuvou Kuladina 14’, Sofi Diyalowai 17’, Cema Nasau 21′, Aliza Hussein 37′)
Fixtures
Games to be played on Sunday August 25, 2024
Play-off for third
Tahiti v Solomon Islands
Friendship Hall, Honiara, 4pm (NZT)
Final
New Zealand v Fiji
Friendship Hall, Honiara, 6pm (NZT)
This story was first published on August 24, 2024.
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