Soccer: Football Ferns cruise to Cup final

Football Ferns Kirsty Yallop, Ali Riley, Hayley Moorwood and Rebecca Smith. Photo / Doug Sherring

Spearheaded by the first and last goals from striker Rosie White, New Zealand cruised past the Solomon Islands 8-0 and into tomorrow's Oceania Nations Cup final against Papua New Guinea at North Harbour Stadium.

In the second semifinal, hotly-favoured PNG made hard work of it against the spirited Cook Islands side before winning 1-0, finishing the match a player short after goalkeeper Linda Bunaga was sent off 12 minutes from time.

The Football Ferns wasted no time with White capitalising on a scramble in the Solomon Islands goalmouth to score in the eighth minute.

Ten minutes later Ria Percival curled a corner kick over goalkeeper Betty Sade to make it 2-0. Sade had no chance when captain Hayley Moorwood fired a shot into the top corner on the half hour and Amber Hearn completed the first half scoring six minutes later with her 11th goal of the tournament.

Sarah Gregorious volleyed home a Kirsty Yallop cross for 5-0 early in the second half and Hannah Wilkinson added a sixth on the hour before giving way to Emma Kete three minutes later.

Gregorious and White completed the romp with their second goals.

"I'm really happy today, and so are the players" said New Zealand coach John Herdman. "We are through to the final and one step away from the World Cup."

Veteran defender Maia Jackman was given the honour of leading the team out as captain in her 50th 'A' international - she is just the fifth Football Ferns to reach the milestone - and was humbled by the gesture from her teammates to hand her the armband.

In the late game both teams had chances but the only goal came in the 63rd minute when Zeen Limbai curled in a rare corner opportunity which eluded Cook Islands goalkeeper Marjorie Toru.

In the 83rd minute - with five minutes to be added - Dayna Napa broke through for the Cooks and was denied a goal-scoring opportunity by Bunaga who was red-carded.

Cook Islands will play the Solomons tomorrow for third and fourth.