Soccer: Ferns thrash Vanuatu

The Football Ferns cruised to victory beating Vanuatu 14-0. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand opened their account at the Oceania Nations Cup women's soccer tournament in Auckland today by overwhelming Vanuatu 14-0.

Amber Hearn led the goalfeast by netting five times while Hannah Wilkinson was another in sharp touch as she contributed four goals as the New Zealanders led 7-0 at halftime.

New Zealand, the reigning Oceania champions, are heavily favoured to win the eight-nation tournament, a qualifying event for next year's World Cup in Germany.

Hearn was in all the early action of the group A match, scoring four times inside the opening 30 minutes before adding her team's last in the dying moments.

- NZPA