20 Nov 2018

Sport: NZ make ominous start to OFC Women's Nations Cup

11:27 am on 20 November 2018

New Zealand have made an ominous start to the OFC Women's Nations Cup in New Caledonia, thrashing Tonga 11-0 in their opening match in Noumea.

Rosie White and Annalie Longo both scored twice to put the Football Ferns 4-0 up after only 15 minutes before Betsy Hassett and Sarah Gregorius combined to scored another four goals in the space of five minutes to open up an 8-0 half-time buffer.

Sarah Gregorius bagged a hat-trick against Tonga.

Sarah Gregorius bagged a hat-trick against Tonga. Photo: Avikash Chand / OFC Media

Gregorius completed her hat-trick seven minutes into the second spell while Ria Percival and Grace Jale rounded out the scoring as the defending champions sent a signal to their title rivals.

"I am forward and I was on the field for 90 minutes today (so) I should be scoring goals," said Gregorius post-match.

"I probably should have scored a few more but it's always nice I think when the goals are spread out the way that they were today as well - everyone contributing and putting in assists as well as finishing them off."

"We had the luxury of making a few subtitutions and controlling the tempo for the second half so a good professional job done."

Despite the lopsided scoreline, New Zealand coach Tom Sermanni praised the effort of their opponents.

"Credit to Tonga, despite the result they kept working very hard to the end, they kept defending very bravely," he said.

The Tongan defence swarms New Zealand's Betsy Hassett.

The Tongan defence swarms New Zealand's Betsy Hassett. Photo: Avikash Chand / OFC Media

Tonga coach Christian Koaneti said they stuck to their game plan but the Football Ferns were the far superior side.

"Coming into this game we knew that New Zealand are a very strong team," he said.

"We had our own game plan but it didn't turn out the way expected. This loss is something we will take on to build for our Fiji game."

Fiji also made a winning start in Group B with a 3-0 victory over the Cook Islands.

Cook Islands captain Elizabeth Harmon missed a big chance to put her side in front in the fifth minute before Fiji's Luisa Tamanitoakula had a goal disallowed two minutes later for offside.

Cema Nasau broke the deadlock, putting Fiji in front with a close-range finish in the 34th minute before 17 year old US-based striker Trina Davis, who starred in Fiji's Nations Cup qualifying run, doubled the lead two minutes later.

Cema Nasau opened the scoring for Fiji.

Cema Nasau opened the scoring for Fiji. Photo: Avikash Chand / OFC Media

Luisa Tamanitoakula finally got her goal shortly before the hour mark to seal a comprehensive win.

"Obviously any team would like to start the tournament with a victory," said Fiji coach Marika Rodu.

"I think definitely we achieved that objective today but despite the fact we are going away with the three points, we seemed to start off late, maybe pressure took hold of the girls in the beginning.

"We could have done better but not to take away from a good Cook Islands outfit, they came fighting in the beginning."

US based striker Trina Davis also got on the score-sheet for Fiji.

US based striker Trina Davis also got on the score-sheet for Fiji. Photo: Avikash Chand / OFC Media

Despite the defeat, Cook Islands coach Tuka Tisam was encouraged by his team's improved performance after half-time.

"Second was good I told them we needed to get some more chances to go forward and they executed that but unfortunately we didn't get a goal, he said.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the semi finals, with the overall winner to represent Oceania at next year's Women's World Cup in France and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.