Half a dozen Wellington Phoenix academy players have helped New Zealand secure a place at next year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
Mackenzie Bryant, Alyssha Eglinton, Emily Humphrey, Brooke Neary, Angela Pivac and Holly Robins are all part of the Young Football Ferns squad that has won the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship in Tahiti.
New Zealand beat Fiji 1-0 in the final thanks to a 94th minute winner.
Eglinton and Humphrey started the tournament decider, while Robins came off the bench at halftime.
Bryant, Pivac and Neary were all unused substitutes in the final, but featured throughout the earlier four matches, with New Zealand scoring 50 goals and conceding just once.
They will re-join their academy teams upon their return home with the second round of the women’s National League Championship and girls’ youth national league this weekend.
Photo: Christophe Fotozz/OFC Media