The match was one of seven scheduled as part of the tour to prepare the PNG squad for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Port Moresby in November.
The tour is giving the young team more experience together before they make their debut appearance in the FIFA competition, having previously played only four international matches as a squad.
The seven games are the last opportunity for the young athletes to stand out before the selection of the official team for the World Cup and all 25 members of the travelling team are hopeful of making the cut.
Head Coach Lisa Cole said the tour will help gauge the strengths and weaknesses of the side ahead of the world cup to better prepare the team for international games.
“Experience is so valuable, you can’t put any dollar signs on it,” she said.
“If I’m not playing the game, how am I supposed to get good at the game? It seems unrealistic to me,” she added.
Cole also acknowledged that the establishment of domestic leagues and opportunities to train and improve are crucial to the ongoing development of the national side.
“A league would help a tonne, but just as important is the consistent training for the players that are at that league level.
“Even more important than a league is a youth development system.”
The team’s first international match experience together was during a Tri-Nations tournament at the opening of the OFC Nation’s Cup 2016 in Port Moresby earlier this year. The team played against the United States and Japan U-20 teams in front of a very proud home crowd before travelling to Korea in June for a match against their U-20 side.
For more on Papua New Guinea football visit www.pngfootball.com.pg

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