OFC Women’s Nations Cup 1986

The second edition of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup took place in 1986 and was held in Christchurch, New Zealand. It followed the same format of the inaugural event, with four teams playing each other in a round-robin format, before the top two qualified for the final, and third and fourth competed in a Playoff for 3rd place.

Hosts and defending champions New Zealand were joined by Australia, Chinese Taipei, and a New Zealand B side as the participating teams. Australia gained revenge for their defeat in the 1983 OFC Women’s Nations Cup final with a 1-0 victory over New Zealand to open the tournament, before being beaten 0-1 themselves by Chinese Taipei on matchday two. New Zealand kept themselves in the hunt for a top two spot with a 2-0 victory over New Zealand B, but fell to a 1-2 defeat to Chinese Taipei on the final day of round-robin play, and Australia sealed their exit with a 2-1 win over New Zealand B elsewhere.

With three wins from three, Chinese Taipei topped the table and were joined by Australia in the final, with New Zealand and New Zealand B facing off in the Playoff for 3rd place. Two goals from Liu Yu-Chu inspired Chinese Taipei to a commanding 4-1 victory over Australia in the final and their first OFC Women’s Nations Cup title.

Elsewhere New Zealand edged New Zealand B 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out to take 3rd place. Helped by her performance in the final, Yu-Chu finished as the tournament’s top goal-scorer with three.