The Football Ferns have kicked off their World Cup qualification campaign with an emphatic 8-0 win over Samoa in the Solomon Islands.
Forward Kelli Brown had a dominant performance, scoring her first goal for the national team early, which was swiftly followed by another two, giving her a first-halfhat-trick.
The 25-year-old, who has scored four goals in the A-league for Newcastle Jets this season, also took home the player of the match award this afternoon.
“I’m pretty stoked, it’s been a long time coming, really grateful to get some in the back of the net,” Brown said.
She also praised her team being able to perform so well in high temperatures.
“I’m proud of the hustle. It’s obviously hot out there, it’s hot for everyone, but we kept working.
The Football Ferns started their World Cup qualification campaign with an emphatic 8-0 win over Samoa. Photo / Photosport
“We worked on things that we’ve been trying to get right, so just keeping those moments going, it’s good.”
New Zealand added a fourth goal in the 65th minute thanks to captain Katie Kitching, who was soon substituted so 17-year-old Pia Vlok could make her international debut.
Charlotte Lancaster, also on debut, curled the ball into the box just after 80 minutes, with the ball hitting the back of the net off a deflection by a Samoa defender.
Manaia Elliot scored the sixth and seventh goals soon afterwards and Deven Jackson capped off the win with the eighth goal of the game, and her first for the Football Ferns, in stoppage time.
Head coach Michael Mayne said he was happy with how the game played out.
“I think the main thing was we figured out how to sort of break down that deep block they had and then individually, I thought we had some players that really grew into the game.
“I thought Deven Jackson was outstanding, I thought Rebekah Stott in the midfield has really composed us during that game to find a way through and I was happy with that last 15 minutes, where we I think we finished pretty professionally as well.”
The Football Ferns will play the Solomon Islands on March 2 and American Samoa on March 5 in their next qualification games.
