OFC U-20 Women’s Championship 2014

Junior Ferns celebrate winning the OFC Women’s U20 Championship. OFC U20 Women’s Championship, Match Day Three, Papua New Guinea v New Zealand, Centre Park Mangere, Saturday 22nd February 2014. Photo: Shane Wenzlick

The sixth edition of the OFC U-20 Women’s Championship took place in 2014 and doubled as qualification for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™ in Canada.

It was hosted by New Zealand for the third consecutive edition, with all matches played at Centre Park in Auckland again, and was contested between four nations in a round-robin format.

PNG’s Meagan Gunemba celebrates scoring the first goal of the day. OFC U20 Women’s Championship, Match Day Two, Papua New Guinea v Vanuatu, Centre Park Mangere, Thursday 20th February 2014. Photo: Shane Wenzlick

Hosts New Zealand didn’t find it as easy as previous title-winning campaigns, defeating Tonga 3-1 and Papua New Guinea 3-0, but still claimed their fourth successive OFC U-20 Women’s Championship title with three wins from three.

Junior Ferns Emily Stotter gets the better of Vanuatu’s Monica Melteviel. OFC U20 Women’s Championship, Match Day One, New Zealand v Vanuatu, Centre Park Mangere, Tuesday 18th February 2014. Photo: Shane Wenzlick

With victories over Paraguay and Costa Rica, New Zealand qualified for the knockout stages of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™ for the first time at the 2014 tournament in Canada. The last eight proved a step too far though, losing 1-4 to eventual runners-up Nigeria.