OFC qualifying for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Germany was hosted in Auckland, New Zealand, with all matches played at North Harbour Stadium. It also doubled as the 2010 OFC Women’s Nations Cup, and was contested between eight nations, the most seen in tournament history at that point.
The format consisted of two groups of four nations, with the top two in each group progressing to the semi-finals. Hosts and defending champions New Zealand were joined by Tahiti, Cook Islands and Vanuatu in Group A, whilst Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga and Solomon Islands were drawn together in Group B.
In confident fashion New Zealand wrapped up top spot in Group A with three wins from three, defeating Vanuatu 14-0, Cook Islands 10-0 and Tahiti 7-0. The decisive fixture came on the opening matchday though, when Cook Islands edged Tahiti 1-0 through a 15th minute Regina Mustonen strike. That gave them the ability to wrap up second place in the group and a spot in the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Vanuatu.
Group B was a tight affair, with 2007 runners-up Papua New Guinea not having it all their own way. They did finish with three wins and maximum points, but were notably pushed hard by Solomon Islands for a tough 2-1 win on matchday two. The decisive fixture in the group also came on the first matchday, with Solomon Islands beating Tonga 4-0, before holding on for a 0-0 draw with Fiji to secure second place and the last spot in the semi-finals.
New Zealand continued their fine form, seeing off Solomon Islands 8-0 in the first semi-final. Six different goal-scorers contributed for the hosts, with Sarah Gregorius and Rosie White scoring twice each. The second semi-final was a much tighter contest, as Papua New Guinea narrowly defeated Cook Islands 1-0. Zeen Limbai scored the lone goal as Papua New Guinea advanced within one game of a maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup™.
In the final, New Zealand ran out 11-0 winners over Papua New Guinea at North Harbour Stadium to qualify for a third FIFA Women’s World Cup™. Rosie White stood out with her four goals for New Zealand, who also re-claimed the OFC Women’s Nations Cup title and a fourth continental crown. New Zealand’s Amber Hearn finished as the tournament’s top scorer with twelve goals, notably scoring five in one game against Vanuatu in the group stage.
Despite suffering another first round exit, New Zealand were incredibly competitive in a group involving eventual champions Japan and European heavyweights England. Amber Hearn put them level with the Japanese in Bochum, whilst Sarah Gregorius gave them the lead against England in Dresden, only to lose both games 1-2. History was made in New Zealand’s final group stage game though, claiming their first point at a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ with a dramatic 2-2 draw with Mexico in Sinsheim, thanks to an injury-time goal from Hannah Wilkinson.
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