Live updates of the Fifa World Cup qualifier between the Football Ferns and Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
– New Zealand had a penalty denied by VAR shortly before halftime.<\/p>\n
– VAR also denied a Deven Jackson goal for off-side.<\/p>\n
– Winner qualifies for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. <\/p>\n
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Three hundred and ninety one goals scored \u2013 and just six against. <\/p>\n If you want to understand the crazy dominance of the Football Ferns over their Oceania rivals, that is one statistic that will blow your mind. The Ferns, who face Papua New Guinea on Wednesday night (7:15pm) for a ticket to the 2027 Fifa Women\u2019s World Cup, have been light years ahead of their Pacific opposition since the first official contests back in 1983.<\/p>\n Across that time New Zealand have faced Oceania teams in 46 matches \u2013 and won 45 of them, with the solitary exception a 1-1 draw with Papua New Guinea in Auckland in 1996. Records provided by Football Ferns historian Jeremy Ruane show that in those games they have scored a staggering 391 goals \u2013 an average of more than eight per match \u2013 and conceded on just six different occasions.<\/p>\n Their supremacy have been even more pronounced in the World Cup qualifying arena, where they haven\u2019t had a goal scored against them since 2007. The mismatches are not good for anyone \u2013 or the sport \u2013 but that is the reality of the development of Oceania women\u2019s football. There have been significant gains made in recent years, especially Papua New Guinea, who impressed in a 2-0 loss to Panama in an intercontinental playoff for a spot at the 2023 Fifa Women\u2019s World Cup. But New Zealand has continued to improve at a faster rate, which has maintained the gulf.<\/p>\n The lack of jeopardy means Wednesday\u2019s match is a fait accompli for Michael Mayne\u2019s team. They won\u2019t take anything for granted \u2013 and will bring a professional approach \u2013 but it is difficult not to be complacent given their past record, along with the qualifying series so far, where the Ferns have scored 24 goals without reply in four games.<\/p>\n But Mayne has been building a new squad and culture over the last 12 months and this is another chance to play together, in front of their home fans. <\/p>\n \u201cWe know there are potential threats, but we also have seen some opportunities,\u201d said Mayne on Tuesday. \u201dWe just want to put on a show for our supporters.\u201d <\/p>\n New Zealand are looking to qualify for their seventh Fifa Women\u2019s World Cup on Wednesday, after being involved in 1991, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023. <\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n The 1991 effort was an outlier, as they had to get past the might of Australia to reach the global showpiece. Since 2006 the Matildas haven\u2019t been part of the equation, given Australia moved to the Asian confederation that year. <\/p>\n Fifa Women\u2019s World Cup \u2013 Oceania qualifiers final<\/p>\n New Zealand v Papua New Guinea<\/p>\n North Harbour Stadium, 7:15pm<\/p>\n Football Ferns all time record vs Oceania nations<\/p>\n Played 46 <\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Won 45 <\/p>\n Drawn 1 <\/p>\n Lost 0 <\/p>\n Goals scored: 391<\/p>\n Goals conceded: 6<\/p>\n Statistics provided by Football Ferns historian Jeremy Ruane<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Michael Burgess<\/a> has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America\u2019s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n