OFC qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Canada was held in Papua New Guinea, with all matches played at the Kalabond Oval in Kokopo. It also doubled as the 2014 OFC Women’s Nations Cup, and was contested between four nations; hosts Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Cook Islands and Tonga.
The tournament reverted back to its old format, with all four teams playing each other in a single group, with the highest-finishing side winning both the OFC Women’s Nations Cup and a ticket to the 2015 Women’s World Cup™.
Attempting to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup™, New Zealand flexed their muscles with a 16-0 victory over Tonga to open the campaign, before also beating the Cook Islands 11-0. Unlike the 2010 final though, their rematch with Papua New Guinea didn’t prove quite as comfortable, with the fixture again proving the decisive match of the tournament.
Papua New Guinea started well but their resistance fell around the hour mark, with goals from Rebekah Stott, Amber Hearn and Annalie Longo securing a 3-0 victory for New Zealand and a fourth World Cup appearance. With three wins from three and maximum points, New Zealand also claimed a fifth OFC Women’s Nations Cup title, with a valiant Papua New Guinea finishing second for the third consecutive tournament.
For the second time running Amber Hearn also finished as the tournament’s top goal-scorer with seven, whilst her teammate Rosie White won the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player. Papua New Guinea’s Fidelma Watpore won the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper, and Tonga received the Fair Play award.
After impressing in Germany, New Zealand were competitive again at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup™. They opened with a 0-1 defeat to the Netherlands, but kept their campaign hopes alive by holding the tournament hosts to a credible 0-0 draw in Edmonton.
New Zealand approached their final game with China needing a win to progress to the knockout stages for the first time, but couldn’t quite get over the line in a 2-2 draw, with goals coming from Rebekah Stott and Hannah Wilkinson, leaving New Zealand on two points from their three matches.
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