Three years after they departed the co-hosted previous edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Dunedin, New Zealand have secured their return to the global stage with a narrow win over Papua New Guinea in Auckland.
Katie Kitching’s second half strike set up a win that sends the Football Ferns to a sixth consecutive edition of the Women’s World Cup but a superb PNG pushed them harder than they have been in a long while.
New Zealand goal: Katie Kitching (55)
For close to an hour, Papua New Guinea goalkeeper Betty Sam was having the game of her life. In between the woodwork being struck thrice, the veteran PNG custodian thwarted efforts from Kitching, Claudia Bunge, Deven Jackson – twice – and Rebekah Stott.
The Football Ferns also had a goal and a penalty appeal denied after VAR reviews while the Bilums lost star forward Marie Kaipu to a late first half injury.
Eventually, the sustained waves of pressure told as substitute Gabi Rennie broke free down the right and stood up a cross that the impressive Kitching rose to nod home, finally beating the superb Sam.
The 33-year-old keeper then set about ensuring that PNG retained some hope of a comeback, pulling off another pair of fine saves to deny Manaia Elliott and then Hannah Blake.
As superb as they were in locking things down at the back, PNG had scant opportunity going forward and that saw the Football Ferns see things out on a cool Auckland evening and extend their extraordinary record of not having conceded a single goal in Women’s World Cup qualifiers since 2007.
Even more remarkably, the nation’s record against Oceania opposition (not including Australia) now sees them having won 46 of 47 matches, with 392 goals for and just six against.
New Zealand now looking to target a maiden group stage progression in a little over a year’s time while Papua New Guinea are set to fly the Oceania flag at the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
“It feels unbelievable, that (qualification) was our goal and we did that tonight. We just needed to stay patient, remain calm and we knew it would come. To go to a World Cup is what you dream of as a kid.”
Rebekah Stott, New Zealand midfielder
“We had a job that we needed to get done and we’re over the moon with knowing that we’re going and we can now get ready to start preparing for the World Cup.”
Michael Mayne, New Zealand coach
“I’m very proud of the girls, Betty Sam played so well today in goal but we weren’t clinical enough so we have to now look forward to the play-off.”
Ericson Komeng, Papua New Guinea coach
Images courtesy of the Oceania Football Confederation/Phototek
