OFC Women’s Nations Cup 2014

The tenth edition of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup took place in 2014 and was held in Papua New Guinea, with all matches played at the Kalabond Oval in Kokopo. It also doubled as OFC qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Canada, and was contested between four nations; hosts Papua New Guinea, two-time defending champions New Zealand, the Cook Islands, and Tonga.

The tournament reverted back to its old format again, with all four teams playing each other in a round-robin structure and the highest-finishing side winning both the OFC Women’s Nations Cup and a ticket to the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Going for a three-peat of OFC Women’s Nations Cup titles, New Zealand flexed their muscles with a 16-0 demolition of Tonga to open the campaign, before also beating the Cook Islands 11-0.

Unlike the 2010 final though, their rematch with Papua New Guinea didn’t prove quite as comfortable. Again the fixture proved the decisive match of the tournament, with the home side keeping New Zealand scoreless through the first half. The Papua New Guinean resistance fell around the hour mark though, as goals from Rebekah Stott, Amber Hearn, and Annalie Longo secured a 3-0 victory for New Zealand and a fifth OFC Women’s Nations Cup title. With three wins from three and maximum points, New Zealand also qualified for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup™, with a valiant Papua New Guinea finishing second for the third consecutive tournament.

The Cook Islands and Tonga could only both muster up a single point, but the former secured third place by virtue of a superior goal difference. For the second time running Amber Hearn also finished as the tournament’s top goal-scorer with seven, whilst her teammate Rosie White won the golden ball. Papua New Guinea’s Fidelma Watpore won the golden glove, and Tonga received the fair play award