OFC qualifying for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in China was hosted in Lae, Papua New Guinea, with all matches played at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium. It doubled as the 2007 OFC Women’s Nations Cup , and was contested by just four nations, with hosts Papua New Guinea joined by New Zealand, Solomon Islands and Tonga. Australia did not participate, having transferred to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.
The format followed previous editions, with all four teams playing each other in a single group and the highest finishing side winning both the OFC Women’s Nations Cup title and qualifying for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup™.
Without rivals Australia in their way, New Zealand were favourites to secure the title, beginning their campaign with big 6-1 and 8-0 victories over qualifying debutants Tonga and the Solomon Islands respectively. Hosts Papua New Guinea kept themselves in the running with wins over the same opposition, beating the Solomon Islands 6-1 and Tonga 1-0, to send the tournament to a title decider with New Zealand on the final day.
By half-time New Zealand had opened up a four-goal lead, confirming their third OFC Women’s Nations Cup title with a convincing 7-0 win at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, and qualifying for a second FIFA Women’s World Cup™. Kirsty Yallop scored twice in the decisive game against Papua New Guinea, joining teammate Nicky Smith as the tournament’s leading goal-scorer with four.
It was three defeats from three for New Zealand in China however, conceding nine and failing to score any in another group stage exit. They suffered a 0-5 defeat to Brazil in their tournament opener, before holding hosts China and Denmark, to two goal margins.
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