19 Feb 2024

Football Ferns clinch Olympic spot with big win over Solomon Islands

6:58 pm on 19 February 2024
New Zealand's Katie Bowen.

New Zealand's Katie Bowen. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.nz

The Football Ferns have booked a place at the Paris Olympic Games with an 11-1 win over the Solomon Islands in the final of the Oceania qualifiers in Apia.

New Zealand were undefeated throughout the tournament conceding only two goals in five games on the way to their title win.

Jacqui Hand opened the scoring in the 12th minute of the final getting on the end of a Hannah Wilkinson pass following a couple of earlier chances for New Zealand.

Wilkinson doubled the lead in the 20th minute with a shot that went in off the bottom of the post.

Defender Katie Bowen added a third goal six minutes later.

Grace Jale scored the Football Ferns' fourth by following through on header of hers saved by the goalkeeper and burying it in the bottom corner, Indiah-Paige Riley scored in the top corner to give the Football Ferns a 5-0 lead at half-time.

Riley scored her second and the Football Ferns' sixth after half-time before the Solomons scored their first.

Wilkinson and Jale added more goals to their personal tallies as New Zealand continued to score with ease as the score ballooned out to 8-1.

Substitute Katie Kitching scored her first senior international goal and the Football Ferns' ninth but six minutes later she scored her second and her team's 10th.

Fellow sub Ruby Nathan found the top corner with her first goal to further extended the lead to 11-1 as time ticked down.

Football Ferns captain Rebekah Stott made her 100th appearance for New Zealand in Monday's win.

The 12-team women's football competition at the Paris Olympic Games kicks off on 24 July.