{"id":592065,"date":"2026-09-06T16:10:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T16:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/592065\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T16:10:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T16:10:11","slug":"new-zealand-score-five-to-get-underway-at-ofc-u-16-womens-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/592065\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand score five to get underway at OFC U-16 Women&#8217;s Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A hat-trick from Jess Saunders has kick-started New Zealand\u2019s OFC U-16 Women\u2019s Championship title defence in a 5-0 victory over tournament hosts Solomon Islands at the National Stadium in Honiara.<\/p>\n<p>Seeking to maintain their perfect record of having won all seven previous editions of the championship at this year\u2019s tournament, New Zealand scored four of their five goals in the first half, Saunders adding the fifth and completing her hat-trick late in the game.<\/p>\n<p>The two nations were meeting at the group stage for the third consecutive edition, with New Zealand having won by the same 5-0 margin in Apia in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Saunders was in the thick of the action early, setting up Jessica Ellis for the opener in the fifth minute, before doubling the side\u2019s advantage with a magnificent direct long-range free kick two minutes later.<\/p>\n<p>She added to her early goal of the tournament contender in first-half stoppage time, breaking in behind and beating Solomon Islands goalkeeper Rose Beui from a one-on-one position for a double. Madeleine Dwyer was the other to get on the scoresheet, sneaking an effort through Beui\u2019s gloves from long range.<\/p>\n<p>Hosting the OFC U-16 Women\u2019s Championship for the first time, the Solomon Islands delivered a much improved defensive display after the break, keeping New Zealand scoreless for over 45 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Just as it appeared as if New Zealand would be held scoreless for just the fourth time in a half of football at the OFC U-16 Women\u2019s Championship, though, Saunders was on hand to tap home her hat-trick from a pass from player of the match Kodi Wilson.<\/p>\n<p>Main photo: New Zealand \u2026 five-goal start to the tournament. Photo credit: OFC Media \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/phototek.co.nz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Phototek<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Fiji overpower Cook Islands in tournament\u2019s opening game<\/p>\n<p>Young sensation Adi Reva scored five goals as Fiji overpowered the Cook Islands 11-0 in the opening match of the tournament.<\/p>\n<p>Already capped at senior international level by the Kulas, Reva scored two in the first half and then added three more in the second, propelling Fiji to their largest ever win at the OFC U-16 Women\u2019s Championship.<\/p>\n<p>Torika Boseiwaqa had the honour of scoring the first goal of the tournament in just the fifth minute, converting from the penalty spot.<\/p>\n<p>That began a dominant afternoon for Nicola Demaine\u2019s side, with Boiseiwaqa scoring a second in the 26th minute, and Esther Vunivi also getting on the scoresheet in the first half. Reva scored the first of her five just after the half-hour mark, poking the ball past opposing goalkeeper Leah Schuster.<\/p>\n<p>She scored her second moments before half-time, and completed her hat-trick in the 50th minute with a header from a corner delivery. Reva then added two more in the final quarter to reach an impressive tally of five, the most ever by a Fijian player in a single OFC U-16 Women\u2019s Championship match.<\/p>\n<p>Half-time substitute Temalesi Masi also made her mark, scoring two goals off the bench, the first of which came just two minutes after entering the pitch. Fellow replacement Elisha Narayan completed the scoring with the last kick of the game.<\/p>\n<p>Returning to the Championship after winning the qualifying tournament in Port Moresby earlier this year, it was a tough baptism for the Cook Islands. They\u2019ll face the Solomon Islands next on Group A\u2019s second matchday at the National Stadium on Wednesday, after the early pacesetters New Zealand and Fiji do battle.<\/p>\n<p>Acknowledgement<\/p>\n<p>We thank OFC Media for providing information for this story.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s at stake<\/p>\n<p>The two finalists at the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women\u2019s World Cup in Morocco.<\/p>\n<p>Results<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31279\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/FOF-Weekday-Sunday.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Games played on Sunday September 6, 2026<\/p>\n<p>Group A<\/p>\n<p>Fiji 11 (Torika Boseiwaqa 5\u2019, 26\u2019, Esther Vunivi 20\u2019, Adi Reva 33\u2019, 45\u2019, 50\u2019, 77\u2019, 85\u2019, Temalesi Masi 47\u2019, 87\u2019, Elisha Narayan 90+7\u2019)<br \/>Cook Islands 0<\/p>\n<p>New Zealand 5 (Jessica Ellis 5\u2019, Jess Saunders 12\u2019, 45+3\u2019, 90+3\u2032, Madeleine Dwyer 18\u2019)<br \/>Solomon Islands 0<\/p>\n<p>OFC U-16 Men\u2019s Championship Group A<\/p>\n<p>Team<br \/>\nP<br \/>\nW<br \/>\nD<br \/>\nL<br \/>\nGF<br \/>\nGA<br \/>\nGD<br \/>\nPts<\/p>\n<p>Fiji<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n3<\/p>\n<p>New Zealand<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n3<\/p>\n<p>Solomon Islands<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n5<br \/>\n-5<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Cook Islands<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n1<br \/>\n0<br \/>\n11<br \/>\n-11<br \/>\n0<\/p>\n<p>Fixtures<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31330\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788711009_72_FOF-weekday-Monday.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Games to be played on Monday September 7, 2026<\/p>\n<p>Group B<\/p>\n<p>New Caledonia v Papua New Guinea<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p>Samoa v Tonga<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31282\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/FOF-Weekday-Wednesday.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Games to be played on Wednesday September 9, 2026<\/p>\n<p>Group A<\/p>\n<p>New Zealand v Fiji<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p>Cook Islands v Solomon Islands<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788711010_591_FOF-Weekday-Thursday.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Games to be played on Thursday September 10, 2026<\/p>\n<p>Group B<\/p>\n<p>Papua New Guinea v Tonga<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p>Samoa v New Caledonia<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788711011_661_FOF-Weekday-Saturday.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Games to be played on Saturday September 12, 2026<\/p>\n<p>Group A<\/p>\n<p>Cook Islands v New Zealand<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p>Solomon Islands v Fiji<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31279\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/FOF-Weekday-Sunday.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Games to be played on Sunday September 13, 2026<\/p>\n<p>Group B<\/p>\n<p>Tonga v New Caledonia<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p>Papua New Guinea v Samo<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31282\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/FOF-Weekday-Wednesday.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Games to be played on Wednesday September 16, 2026<\/p>\n<p>Semi-final 1<\/p>\n<p>Winner Group A v Runners-up Group B<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p>Semi-final 2<\/p>\n<p>Winners Group B v Runners-up Group A\u00a0<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788711010_591_FOF-Weekday-Thursday.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Games to be played on Thursday September 17, 2026<\/p>\n<p>Play-off for 7th place<\/p>\n<p>4th Group A v 4th Group B<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p>Play-off for 5th place<\/p>\n<p>3rd Group A v 3rd Group B<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-31278\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788711011_661_FOF-Weekday-Saturday.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Games to be played on Saturday September 19, 2026<\/p>\n<p>Play-off for 3rd place<\/p>\n<p>Losers semi-final 1 v losers semi-final 2<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 5pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p>Winners semi-final 1 v winners semi-final 2<br \/>National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, 8pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<p>This story was first published on September 6, 2026.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.friendsoffootballnz.com\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">More football stories<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A hat-trick from Jess Saunders has kick-started New Zealand\u2019s OFC U-16 Women\u2019s Championship title defence in a 5-0&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":592066,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[111,43,139,69,291657],"class_list":["post-592065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-zealand","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-ofc-u-16-womens-championship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/592065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=592065"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/592065\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/592066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=592065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=592065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=592065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}