OFC U16 Women's Championship: Samoa secures semifinal spot after dominant win over Fiji

RNZ News

6 days ago

Samoa's Makeli Leonard and Fiji's Teonila Levuiciva tussle for possession during the OFC U16 Women's Championship on Monday. 4 August 2025
Photo:
Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.nz
Samoa is the first team to qualify for the semifinals of the OFC 2025 Under-16 Women's Championship following their 4-0 win over Fiji in Apia on Monday at the Samoa Football Federation field in Apia.
The hosts second win puts them firmly at the top of Group A.
Juan Chang Urrea's side have one more game to play, against Tahiti this week.
Fiji, who defeated Tahiti last Friday, will now meet New Caledonia in the decider for the second semi-final spot.
New Caledonia also defeated Tahiti on earlier on Monday to keep their hopes of a semifinal spot alive.
Against Fiji, Samoa controlled proceedings and dictated the tempo from the opening minute.
OFC reported midfielders Brielle Tautua and Macy Tuiolosega orchestrated play with authority, stifling Fiji's efforts to gain any meaningful possession.
As they grew in confidence, the Fijians were left to chase shadows for much of the match, struggling to connect with their passes.
Tuiolosega broke the deadlock in the 36th minute of the game with a long piledriver from a freekick, which Fiji goalkeeper Melania Keresoni failed to gather.
Winning coach Urrea said it was tough game but he was happy the players stuck together and came out winners.
"Thoughts always positive," he said post-match.
"The girls connected off the field and on the field as well, as usual.
"We just have to recover and go into the next game and the support has been amazing, very special moment."
Losing coach Marika Rodu congratulated Samoa and said they were superior technically.
"No excuses on our loss," he said.
"We can see the gap in the technical superiority that Samoa has as they are preparing a team to go to the world cup this year.
"Hats off to them for their efforts."
Rodu said his own players are demoralised after the loss so the challenge for him and the coaching team is getting them to focus on their next game against New Caledonia.
If Fiji wins that clash they can also be in the semi-finals.
"Girls gave their 100 percent, they fought out well in the the first half," he said.
"We tried to keep pressure on Samoa. I know our girls would be demoralised because of the scoreline but we will not lose hope.
"We have a game against New Caledonia and that's what we want to prepare for."
Samoa's Jayde Sagapolutele was a constant menace down the right flank, delivering a series of accurate crosses that deserved better finishes.
Cali Willis and Tautua both missed clear-cut chances in the first half, and Aaliyah Johnson squandered a golden opportunity, heading wide
Samoa doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Ayres Ava reacted quickest at the near post from a corner to slot home and the result was sealed in the 70th minute with a brilliant individual effort from Johnson.
She sent a well-place shot past Keresoni from a tight angle, before Tuiolosega unleashed a bullet from outside the box to seal the game for the locals.
Samoa
4 (Macey Tuiolosega 36' 90′, Ayres Ava 58' Aaliyah Johnson 70')
Fiji
0.
New Caledonia's Emmanuelle Buama on the attack against Tahiti's Kumuhei Kautai during the OFC 2025 Under-16 Women's Championship 2025. 4 August 2025
Photo:
Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.nz
New Caledonia recorded their first win in Apia after they defeated Tahiti 4-2 in a Pool A clash.
The win keeps New Caledonia in the running for a semifinal spot, with their third and final game against Fiji later this week.
Tahiti had taken the early lead in the first half before New Caledonia replied with the equaliser, leaving the scores at 1-all after the first 45 minutes.
New Caledonia scored three more goals in the second spell, to record the win, having lost to Samoa on Friday.
Head coach Kenjy Vendegou said they take the win and look forward to the next game.
"Happy with the way the players came back into this game to win and stay in the hunt," he said.
"We will take things as they come and look forward to meeting Fiji."
Tahiti head coach Delphine Soret admitted it was a tough game for them, with New Caledonia coming back hard to draw level in the first half before taking the game away in the second spell.
"It was a difficult match for Tahiti today," she said.
"It was hard to get going because New Caledonia obviously put a lot of pressure on the team but there are some positives that Tahiti can take out of this match.
"We look forward to the next match."
Tahiti have lost both matches so far, going down to Fiji in their first game last Friday.
OFC reported that New Caledonia controlled possession with a composed midfield display from the start, as playmaker Kinë Hmaen took control early.
But Tahiti struck against the run of play, six minutes into the game.
Miri Flosse stunned the opposition with a long-range strike that dipped over the goalkeeper, giving Tahiti an early lead.
New Caledonia's Hawë Ijelipa had some surges into the Tahitian box after that, with Hmaen orchestrating plays, with vision and precision.
The equaliser came when a defensive lapse from Tahiti saw Hmaen slot the ball to the back of the net.
Heidra Adjouhgniope pushed New Caledonia further ahead with a 65th minute goal before Hmaen scored her second and the team's third goal.
Tahiti pulled a goal back through captain Kumuhei Kautai but New Caledonia had the last laugh when Bernadette Nyikeine scored from a volley in front of the goalmouth.
New Caledonia
4 (Kinë Hmaen 45+1', 87′ Heidra Adoughgniope 67′ Bernadette Nyikeine 90+8)
Tahiti
2 (Miri Flosse 6' Kumuhei Kautai 90+7′).
Pool B matches continue on Tuesday, with American Samoa meeting Tonga and New Zealand set to face the Solomon Islands.