New Zealand 8-0 Solomon Islands
by Maddison Hagger (2/3/26)
Above: Hannah Blake completes a hat-trick against the Solomon Islands. Photo: OFC Media.
New Zealand is safely through to the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Oceania qualifiers after defeating the Solomon Islands 8-0 at the National Stadium in Honiara.
With three goals in the first half and five in the second, New Zealand maintained their domination of never having lost a game against Oceania opposition and sit in the top-spot of Group A. New Zealand’s goals came from Milly Clegg, Indiah-Page Riley, Hannah Blake, Grace Jale and Pia Vlok.
A hat-trick for Blake, a brace for Clegg and four assists by Charlotte Lancaster showed that while footballing levels are improving within Oceania, the gap between New Zealand and the Pacific nations remains insurmountable.
Clegg opened the scoring in the second minute when the ball fell kindly in the box after a Solomon Islands’ defensive mistake. Clegg successfully capitalised with a strike hammered into the top left corner.
The opener was quickly followed with two more first-half goals by Riley and Blake.
In the eighth minute, New Zealand won possession in the midfield and launched a quick counter attack with the ball falling for Riley who beautifully curled it into the far top left corner.
In the 16th minute, a ball over the Solomon Islands’ defensive line found Blake with time and space who brought it under control and launched a strike into the bottom right corner. Solomon Islands’ goalkeeper Margaret Kofela got a touch but was unable to keep the ball out.
Facing a steep challenge against Oceania’s dominant side, the Solomon Islands’ coach Daniel Barrett chose to line-up defensively with five players in the back. The host side however lacked players to pass to up front and were unable to properly challenge New Zealand in attack. They did show resilience in defence though, and stifled any further attempts in the first half. Defenders Mesalyn Saepio and Naelyn Metake made multiple blocks to keep New Zealand from extending their lead, who at times were wasteful in finishing.
The Solomon Islands started the second half with greater intensity and successfully frustrated New Zealand by keeping positionally organised and blocking their attacking channels.
In the 57th minute, Ferns’ coach Michael Mayne made three changes with Suya Haering, Michaela Foster and Vlok coming onto the pitch.
Shortly after, Lancaster launched a dangerous cross which was poorly cleared to Jale on the edge of the box. She launched a hammering strike through the middle, increasing the scoreline to four.
Three more goals in the next 15 minutes dampened the Solomon Islands’ lively start and left the players looking tired and defeated.
Blake followed her first goal for New Zealand with two more, completing a hat-trick. 17-year-old Vlok also scored her first international goal by deflecting a shot from Foster into the bottom right corner.
Clegg closed the game off with her second when the Solomon Islands’ defensive line missed a clearance and Clegg was in position to slot the ball into the back of the net, increasing the scoreline to eight.
Teams: NEW ZEALAND (3-4-3): Santos, Anton, Moore, Stott, Lancaster, Hahn, Jale, Riley, Blake, Kitching, Clegg. Substitutes: Barry, Brown, Bunge, Elliott, Foster, Haering, Jackson, Pijnenburg, Vlok, Wisnewski, Esson, Iro.
Scorers: Clegg 3’ 78’, Riley 8’, Blake 16’ 63’ 70’, Jale 61’, Vlok 72’
SOLOMON ISLANDS (5-3-2): Kofela, Votu, Saepio, Rotoava, Nari, Metake, Anholland, Solosaia, Donga, Pegi, Gogoni. Substitutes: Donga, Paia, Saeni, Ikama, Alele, Sade, Oritaimae, Ellen, Hanigaro, Solo, Ama Lalawa, Aba.
Referee: Gulshoda Saitkulova (Uzbekistan)
Attendance: TBC.
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