Nine for Rolston in NZ’s big win
EMMA ROLSTON scored nine of New Zealand’s goals in their 18-0 annihilation of Vanuatu at the Oceania Football U-20 Women’s Championships in Tonga yesterday.
Following on from 15-0 and 26-0 wins over Tonga and New Caledonia respectively, the Leon Birnie-coached New Zealand side again flew out of the blocks, holding a 7-0 advantage before the 30 minute mark.
Captain Jasmine Pereira and Emma Rolston – who entered Monday’s game with 14 goals in two games – were again in the thick of the goal mouth action, scoring four goals each in the opening 45 minutes.
A double from Michaela Robertson – making her first start of the tournament – and a Daisy Cleverley penalty provided the rest for an 11-0 halftime lead.
After the restart, Rolston and Pereira kept firing; the former scoring five more to move to nine for the game while the New Zealand captain struck half double; six for the day.
New Zealand’s fourth and final match of their campaign is against Samoa on
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second New Zealand 18-0 Vanuatu. HT: 11-0. NZL: Jasmine Pereira 5’, 15’, 18’, 22’, 63’, 77’, Emma Rolston 8’, 10’, 40’, 43’, 57’, 65’, 81’, 82’, 84’, Michaela Robertson 13’, 45’, Daisy Cleverley (pen) 26’ Saturday and the winner of the tournament qualifies for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea in October 2016.