New Zealand finished top of their group at the Oceania Under-20 Women's World Cup qualifying tournament in Apia on Tuesday, NZ time, after seeing off Tonga 7-0 at the Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Football Fields. It was a frustrating afternoon for the Kiwis, who found themselves up against opponents who set out to effectively play eleven-man defence in the hope of avoiding the sort of humiliating 16-0 scoreline New Zealand put on them in Auckland just under three weeks ago. Before Tonga had a chance to implement their negative approach, however, they found themselves a goal down, Caitlin Campbell lashing home with her first touch of the tournament just thirty-one seconds into the match, on receipt of a cross from Kirsty Yallop. As if playing against a side whose sweeper, Penateti Feke, effectively positioned herself on the edge of the goal area, the New Zealanders got a further indication of the sort of frustrating afternoon with which they would be faced in the fourth minute, as Yallop found herself playing the role of the meat in a Tongan sandwich inside the penalty area. No spot-kick decision was forthcoming from referee Salaulau Sosongan. After a splendid save by Tongan goalkeeper Sialia Laakulu had denied Helen Collins, as she headed Petria Rennie's cross goalwards, the supplier of that opportunity turned chief celebrant in the thirteenth minute. Hannah Rishworth strode out of defence and released Ria Percival down the left, her cross to the far post neatly steered home by Rennie to secure a 2-0 lead for the tournament favourites. After Laakulu had thwarted Campbell on the quarter-hour, Katie Hoyle, Rennie and Yallop teamed up to present Sarah Gregorius with a shooting chance. She was off-target on this occasion, but found herself the centre of attention five minutes later, as Tonga's Salome Vaenuku picked up a booking for an unusual display of "sportsmanship". Having conceded a free-kick by attempting to kick a ball Gregorius was attempting to head, the defender gave the striker a hearty slap on the back in apologising for her error, an action which referee Sosongan quite rightly deemed to be anything but in the interests of Fair Play. From the resulting free-kick, Collins skipped past three challenges before firing wide from eighteen yards. This prompted a mini-onslaught from the Kiwis, with Campbell unable to capitalise after Yallop, having held off two challenges, linked with Gregorius and Emma Harrison to create this opening. Seconds later, Campbell saw her twenty-yard drive turned round the post by Laakulu, who was to look on with relief over the course of the next seven minutes as two efforts from Yallop careered past the woodwork. The Kiwi captain, on receipt of a 37th minute pass from Hoyle, picked out Campbell ghosting in behind the defence, only for the lanky striker to lift her effort over the crossbar at full stretch. Collins was similarly rewarded for her angled run into the danger zone by Yallop's pass two minutes later, only to steer her effort over, rather than under, the bar. Collins made up for this transgression with plenty of aggression in the 41st minute, holding off defenders before laying the ball off to Yallop. A one-two with Hoyle later, and the captain was wheeling away in delight, having picked out the top left-hand corner of Laakulu's net from twenty yards. Two minutes later, New Zealand went 4-0 up, with Harrison this time leading the celebrations. Rennie rampaged down the right then checked inside before crossing to Gregorius. She chested the ball down for

Tonga's 'keeper punches clear off Caitlin Campbell's head      Petria Rennie volleys home, and Katie Hoyle Emma Humphries lets off a shot Kirsty Yallop powers past an opponent, and Hannah Rishworth Sarah Gregorius lets fly

Harrison, who rattled home a beauty from twenty-three yards to bring about the half-time score. The second spell saw Ali Riley introduced at the expense of Percival, and she wasted little time in advising the Tongan defence of her intentions. After Gregorius had smacked a shot on the turn just wide, the substitute grazed the woodwork after Campbell and Harrison had combined to good effect. Campbell then rattled the post before another substitute, Emma Humphries, warmed the gloves of Laakulu just seconds after coming on in the 51st minute. Two minutes later, New Zealand went nap, Hoyle rewarding Riley's run with a well-weighted pass. The newcomer picked her spot from the edge of the penalty area, and placed the ball beyond Laakulu - 5-0. After Humphries had lashed two efforts wide of the mark, the striker whipped in a cross in the 62nd minute which arced just over Riley. Yallop picked up the pieces near the left-hand touchline, cut inside and unleashed a snorter, the ball sailing into the top far corner of the net from the best part of thirty yards on the angle. Within seconds, Rennie came close to getting her second goal of the game, Laakulu her nemesis, as she was when punching Humphries' corner off the head of Campbell in the 64th minute. Yallop threaded the ball back into the danger zone, with Campbell swivelling to hit a shot on the turn which left Laakulu beaten all ends up, only to cannon to safety off the post. Nineteen minutes from time, New Zealand went seven-up. Riley roamed inside off the left flank and swept in a low cross which Humphries deftly steered home to open her personal account for Oceania '06. She and her team-mates could have added many more, but Laakulu, amongst others in red, stood firm. The goalkeeper thwarted both Emmas - Humphries and Harrison - in the 74th and 77th minutes respectively, then denied Campbell after the striker had spun one way round her marker, while flicking the ball the other side of her, regathering, then evading another challenge - a splendid piece of individual skill deserving of better reward. Rennie then rattled the post with a drive, before Campbell played Riley in from the left, the second half replacement scything inside before lashing a drive goalwards which Laakulu parried. Yallop was unable to capitalise on the rebound, while Hoyle was unable to get the better of the goalkeeper five minutes from time, meaning New Zealand had to settle for a frustrating 7-0 win over their fellow semi-finalists. Coach John Herdman was pleased with his team's efforts in the circumstances. "I wasn't sure of Tonga's strategy, that's for sure, but the girls got on with the job despite the circumstances with which they were faced, scored early, and produced a strong performance overall. "We would have liked to have scored twenty, and it wasn't for the want of trying that we didn't. That said, Tonga never got a shot on goal, and we've got through the game with no injuries, and with everyone in the squad having started at least one game in the tournament. "All in all, a good little outing, with the consistent displays of Ria Percival and Ali Riley worthy of special mention". New Zealand:  Clansey; Rennie, Baldwin, Rishworth, Percival (Riley, 46); Hoyle, Yallop, Harrison; Gregorius (Humphries, 51), Collins (Bromley, 59), Campbell Tonga:  Laakulu; Utaatu, Vaenuku (booked, 25) (Falesiva, 46), Feke, Lave, Malua; Veamatahau, Tuipulotu, Lolohea, Liti (Kalavi, 29); Puloka (Niukapu, 46) Referee:  Salaiau Sosongan