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Cook Islands
Junior Ferns Book Their Passage To Poland
by Jeremy Ruane
New Zealand's Junior Ferns booked their place at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Finals in Poland on October 1, comfortably accounting for the Cook Islands 8-0 in their OFC U-19 Women's Championship semi-finals on a weather-worn Stade Paea pitch in Papeete.

The reigning champions looked to open the scoring swiftly in this encounter, with Emily Lyon's close-range effort smothered by Kimberly Uini at the near post after Zoe Benson had taken on and beaten two opponents in the second minute.

Four minutes later, the same combination went close again, Benson's first-time cross to the near post being steered past the upright by Lyon, who somehow steered the ball over the bar from six yards sixty seconds later, Penny Brill and Isla Cleall-Harding combining for their team-mate's benefit on this occasion.

Having survived these early scares, Cook Islands successfully established their defensive white-clad wall, and the Junior Ferns subsequently found chances to be few and far between as their opponents defended stoically and stubbornly.

They finally found the way to goal in the 33rd minute, a twenty-five yarder from Benson which arrowed into the top corner, Lyon, Charlotte Mortlock and Mackenzie Longmuir having combined following a short corner.

Within seconds, Grace Bartlett and Benson worked a one-two on the right, with the former's cross being pawed off the head of Lyon by Uini. But the physically imposing striker was not to be denied by the Cooks, and seconds after being crowded out in the penalty area, Lyon pounced from close range to double New Zealand's lead, Benson and Brill having engineered the opening for Cleall-Harding to deliver a measured low cross.

Having scored twice in three minutes, the Junior Ferns were eager to build on that momentum, and after Alyssha Eglinton's long-range free-kick had been foiled by Uini, and Lyon had hit the post after Mortlock, Benson and Brill had opened up their opponents' rearguard, goal number three materialised in the 41st minute.

Daisy Brazendale delivered a lovely pass into the stride of Brill as she motored through the inside left channel, from where she fizzed in a measured low cross which Lyon emphatically slammed into the roof of the net from close range - 3-0.

The post denied Lyon again before the half-time whistle, while after it, the Cook Islands re-established their defensive block, and breaking it down again proved to be something of a challenge for Callum Holmes' charges.

Uini denied a couple of twenty-five yarders from
Benson inside the first ten minutes of the half, but seconds later, Eglinton, Benson, Mortlock and Bartlett combined to unlock the door. Through it strode Lyon, who rounded Uini and tucked the ball into an empty net - 4-0 after 55 minutes.

Benson, Brill and substitute Poppy O'Brien all went close inside the next ten minutes, and in the 67th minute the last-mentioned did what she does so well - roasted a couple of defenders with her pace and poise before picking out fellow substitute Amber De Wit. Her cross saw Lyon miscue her shot, but thankfully, Cleall-Harding slid in on the far post to rescue the situation and steer home New Zealand's fifth goal under the diving figure of Uini.

Their sixth came about nine minutes later. Brill fed O'Brien, who promptly powered past two opponents en route to the by-line, from where she delivered a pinpoint cross which was fired home at close range by fellow substitute Lily Brazendale.

Numerous chances soon followed, but a combination of defiant defending and inaccurate execution meant the scoreboard didn't change, much to the chagrin of Mary Brown in the 83rd minute, when the offside flag cut short her goal celebrations.

Uini produced a fine double-save two minutes later, parrying De Wit's twenty-five yarder before quickly recovering to prevent Bartlett from bundling home the loose ball. But the goalkeeper's heroics were swiftly forgotten sixty seconds later when she allowed a low-struck long-range missile from O'Brien to fly between her legs and into the far corner of the net - 7-0.

Bartlett should have made it eight soon after, skying one from six yards after Lily Brazendale, De Wit and Brown had prised open the tiring Cook Islands rearguard, who succumbed again in the 89th minute as Uini fumbled a rising drive into her net after Bartlett, Brill, Daisy Brazendale and Brown had bewildered their opponents once more.

Uini denied Brown twice more before the final whistle, but eight was more than enough for the Junior Ferns to confirm their involvement at Poland 2026. They now face fellow FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualifiers New Caledonia for the second time in these Championships, with the Oceania title on the line in three days' time.

Cook Islands:     Uini; Piri-Savage (K. Arere, 46), Mitchell, Poila, Auua, Mose; Tuariki (Mataio, 83), Taia (Rimamotu, 83), M. Arere; Karika (A. Brothers, 65), Narsimullu (R. Brothers, 65)
Junior Ferns:     Campbell; Longmuir, Eglinton (Dunn, 70), Greene; Bartlett, Mortlock (O'Brien, 61), D. Brazendale, Brill; Lyon (L. Brazendale, 70), Benson (De Wit, 61), Cleall-Harding (Brown, 70)
Referee:     Azusa Sugino (Japan)


Project Poland 2026