Football: Satchell aiming to make World Cup mark

Former Ngongotaha AFC and Rotorua United player Paige Satchell is part of a New Zealand squad looking to make a big impact at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. PHOTO/SUPPLIED.

Former Ngongotaha AFC and Rotorua United player Paige Satchell is part of a New Zealand squad looking to make a big impact at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

Satchell, who was a travelling reserve for the New Zealand women's football side for the Rio Olympic Games, will feature in a squad with a blend of experience and youth.

Football Ferns U-20 coach Leon Birnie said he is confident his side had what it takes to make a mark in Papua New Guinea against Ghana tonight.

The Ferns opposition are playing in their fourth consecutive FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup but are yet to make a quarter-final appearance. The Black Princesses clearly know how to find the target after scoring 17 goals in their six qualifying matches and are also very sound at the other end of the park, conceding only two.

Sandra Owusu Ansah is likely to be the danger woman after top-scoring on the path to Papua New Guinea with four goals.

"Ghana are athletic, physically strong and quick - they're effective because of that," Birnie said.

"It's going to be a challenge, there's no denying that, but we're up for it. Our goal all the way has been to get out of the group stage and we'll be doing everything we can to achieve that."

Satchell, 18, and fellow football Ferns Meikayla Moore, Jasmine Pereira, Daisy Cleverley will join a batch of players who recently took part in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Jordan - namely Hannah Blake, Grace Jale, Nadia Olla, Jacqueline Hand and Malia Steinmetz.

Defender Moore will skipper the team and is looking to put her experience to good use.

"I want to be a real leader and, if times gets tough, lift the girls and push them through," she said. "Hopefully, we can get out of the group and then carry each other through as far as we can go."

Birnie's charges will also face top-class opposition in the form of the United States and France but have already proved they can compete with the best after promising performances in build-up games against the States and Mexico.

"If we look back to the start of the campaign, I think we've come a long way," he said.

"We've got a couple of things we think we can tidy up quite quickly and have to make sure we're not competing for 70 minutes but then losing in the last 15 to 20."

"It's exciting, I'm sure the girls are going to love it because it will be a fantastic experience.

"They're the cream of the crop and that's why they're here. They've been working really hard over the last 16 months and for their entire lives really."

All of New Zealand's matches at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup will be televised live with tonight's clash against Ghana being screened on SKY Sport 2 at 10pm (NZT).

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup - New Zealand fixtures:

Ghana vs New Zealand
Monday 14 November, 10pm (NZT)
PNG Football Stadium
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

New Zealand vs United States
Thursday 17 November, 10pm (NZT)
PNG Football Stadium
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

New Zealand vs France
Monday 21 November, 7pm (NZT)
Bava Park
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

New Zealand squad:

Tessa Nicol (GK), 2. Sarah Morton, 3. Sophie Stewart-Hobbs, 4. Elizabeth Anton, 5. Samantha Murrell, 6. Meikayla Moore, 7. Isabella Coombes, 8. Jasmine Pereira, 9. Martine Puketapu, 10. Daisy Cleverley, 11. Emma Rolston, 12. Malia Steinmetz, 13. Paige Satchell, 14. Jade Parris, 15. Hannah Blake, 16. Tayla Christensen, 17. Eileish Hayes, 18. Grace Jale, 19. Jacqueline Hand, 20. Emily Couchman (GK), 21. Nadia Olla (GK)

Coach: Leon Birnie