PNG to take on New Caledonia in U17 semis

Papua New Guinea now faces New Caledonia in the second semifinal of the 2016 OFC U-17 Women's Championship at Raratonga, Cook Islands.

This match will get underway today at the CIFA Academy at 1pm (PNG time).

PNG and New Zealand are the only teams to go through pool play without a defeat.

But after a first-up 7-1 drubbing of Vanuatu, PNG struggled a little, edging Cook Islands 2-1 before the draw with Fiji on Match Day 5.

Our girls will be banking on top striker in the tournament Belinda Giada to help them secure a win.

Giada scored a total of eight goals so far in the tournament, four goals against Vanuatu, two goals against Cook Islands and another two against Fiji.

She has lived up to expectations with her attacking ability and is a strong contender for the golden boot award.

New Zealand is playing Fiji in the first match at the CIFA Academy from 10am (PNG time).

After navigating their way through pool play, the four nations will fight for a spot in the final of the tournament.

The champion of this tournament will have direct qualification to the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup at Jordan from 30 September to 21 October.

Eight countries took part in the tournament with the top four playing the semifinals while Vanuatu, Samoa, Cook Islands and Tonga missed out.

Author: 
Quintina Naime