Players and coaches celebrate after the Cook Islands' win Photo: OFC Media via Phototek
The Cook Islands' fairytale run in the Oceania U-19 Women's Championship has continued after they defeated Vanuatu in their quarter-final tie in Suva yesterday.
With the score tied at 1-1, Hereatea Mapu's close-range header with 25 minutes remaining was the decisive moment of the match.
The team had already beaten Solomon Islands and drew with Tahiti in their group matches.
Samoa also booked their place in the final four after overcoming Tahiti in a penalty shoot-out.
The teams battled to a 1-1 draw in Suva over 90 minutes and extra-time.
Both sides were denied three times from the spot, until Samoa's Grace Taeaoalii rolled the ball into the corner for a 4-3 shoot-out win.
Fiji's Emma Mereia scored with five minutes remaining of their tie against New Caledonia to seal her side's 1-0 win.
Meanwhile, New Zealand took a step closer to retaining their title with a 19-0 win over Solomon Islands.
The reward for the Cook Islands is a semi-final tie against the rampant New Zealanders.
The semi-finals are on Wednesday, with Samoa playing Fiji first up.
