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Auckland, New Zealand– The road to the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup kicks off at Ngawe Reserves in Auckland, with a series of three matches to select a team to qualify for the 2024 Oceania Football Confederation U-16 Women’s Championship in Fiji this September.
Both sides lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation to suit the wet pitch conditions and the rigours of international football. The pattern of the match was established early on, with American Samoa happy to capitalise on quick counter-attacks and Papua New Guinea absorbing early pressure with ease and taking their chances to get into the American Samoa half.
In the 13th minute, PNG captain Lisi Robert set the tone with a brilliant run from deep in midfield. She slid the ball to Stella Torobert, which looked like a goal-scoring opportunity for PNG, but she passed it to Vira Gunemba when a shot would have been a better option.
Five minutes later, water at the other end of the pitch opened up for PNG, as Pritchard broke through the PNG defence and dribbled past Faustina Wall with ease and confidence. The ball stuck to the water and the striker was able to get away, only to tip the ball wide of the PNG goal.
ASA were most likely to score through Pritchard, who had a chance to open the scoring on a counter attack just after the half hour mark when she latched onto Mary Jane Lema’s ball and easily got past the PNG defence, but her shot was again off target.
PNG failed to take the lead in the first half with its best chance, earning a penalty after April Sinowai was brought down, but Gunemba’s shot hit the crossbar but was ultimately too high.
Papua New Guinea realised the danger Pritchard posed and they tried to neutralise the No.10 early in the second half, but he went down hard after a powerful tackle from Wall.
But she had the last laugh minutes later, snatching the ball from Wall on the halfway line before using her stamina and pace to outsmart the Papua New Guinea defender to seal the game with a brilliant solo goal in the 57th minute.
Minutes later, she almost doubled her tally when she stole the ball from Serah Witu and charged towards Helina George’s goal, but fortunately the Papua New Guinea defender made a last-ditch block.
Although Papua New Guinea formed a good attacking combination and found opportunities mainly through Gunemba, the team still failed to convert the chances into goals, while at the other end of the field, goalkeeper George was the key to keeping the team ahead. She completed a wonderful performance with three saves in the 80th minute, once again blocking shots from Pritchard and Wendolynn Tua.
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