Fiji, in white, beat Tahiti in the semifinals of the OFC U-16 Women's Championship 2023 at Pater Stadium, Pirae, Tahiti. Photo: Christophe Fotozz, Tahiti
Fiji and New Zealand are set to play in the final of the Oceania Football Confederation Under-16 Women's Championships in Papeete on Tuesday (French Polynesia time).
Fiji advanced to the final following a dramatic penalty shootout 3-2 victory over hosts Tahiti, while tournament favourites New Zealand crushed Tonga by 7-nil in a dominant outing.
The two teams will fight for a place at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
In the first semifinal, Tahiti's Maerehia Dehors' spot-kick was saved by Rosalain Sarahphina to end a action-packed encounter that swung either way throughout the 90 and the shootout itself, OFC Media reported.
Both teams were locked at 1-1 at half time. With neither side making the breakthrough in the final minutes, penalties determined who would advance to the final.
"The first two efforts from both sides were saved, with the subsequent two scored as proceedings ebbed and flowed. It eventually fell to Tahiti's Maerehia Dehors and her low effort was saved by Sarahphina to send her nation to the final."
In the second semifinal, the Kiwis started brightly - as they had done against in their 27-nil win over Vanuatu.
Tonga were impressive in their defensive resolve as they repelled waves of attack, going down 2-nil at the break.
However, the New Zealand side came back fired up in the second spell and found the back of the next five more times to march on to the final.
Fiji's Surawaia Laulaba and New Zealand's Alyssha Eglinton won the Player of the Match honours for their respective teams.
"New Zealand now look ahead to a final against Fiji on Tuesday (Papeete time), whilst Tonga will have a couple of days to prepare for their Play-off for 3rd place against Tahiti on the same day," OFC Media reported.
- OFC