In a historic achievement for Tonga, the Future Mataliki, Tonga’s U16 Women’s National Team, secured their first-ever bronze medal at the OFC U16 Women’s Championship. The determined squad overcame a formidable New Caledonia side 1-0, marking a significant moment in the history of Tongan women’s football.
Having finished fourth twice in previous tournaments, first in 2010 after a hard-fought loss to Papua New Guinea, and again last year after a 5-3 defeat to Tahiti, Tonga was determined to go one step further this time around.
The match was not without its challenges for Tonga, as they had to contend with the loss of Tyra Bagiante, who was forced to withdraw shortly before kickoff. Sophiana Moala was called up as a late replacement and played with immense effort to keep Tonga’s attacking hopes alive.
New Caledonia dominated the early stages of the game however, despite their possession, clear-cut chances were few and far between for the New Caledonians. Their best opportunity came just before halftime, when Hmaen was set free by a defence-splitting pass, only to be denied by a timely intervention from the Tongan defence.
The first half was largely uneventful, with both teams struggling to break through. The match looked set to open up in the second half, as fatigue from two weeks of intense competition weighed on the players, both mentally and physically.
New Caledonia began the second half as the stronger side, creating several dangerous chances. Matha Bako’s long-range free kick forced a difficult save from Tongan goalkeeper Temaleti Taufa’ao, and Hmaen thought she had given New Caledonia the lead after finishing a swift counterattack, only to see the offside flag raised.
Just when it seemed New Caledonia might break the deadlock, Tonga struck. In the 56th minute, Cienna Filimoeatu’s free kick rebounded off the crossbar, and Kuria Malohifo’ou pounced on the rebound to give Tonga the lead. The Tongan bench erupted as the team inched closer to their historic bronze medal.
New Caledonia pressed hard in search of an equaliser, with Bako and Hmaen causing problems for the Tongan defence. However, Tema Tonga and Losaline Tu’utafaiva stood firm, neutralizing every threat that came their way. New Caledonia came agonisingly close in the 85th minute when a corner wasn’t properly dealt with, but the final shot sailed over the bar.
Despite a late save from New Caledonia’s Kessyna Nypie to deny Sophiana Moala, the momentum remained firmly with Tonga. As the final whistle blew, the Tongan players celebrated their hard-fought victory, knowing they had made history for their country.
After the match, Tongan head coach Soane Mailangi expressed his pride in the team’s discipline and resilience throughout the tournament. “This is history for Tonga,” Mailangi said. “Last year we finished fourth, this year we’re third, and next year we will be back to fight for that FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup spot.”
With this triumph, the Future Mataliki have not only etched their names into the history books but also laid a strong foundation for future success. As they continue to grow and improve, their sights are set on qualifying for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, a dream that now feels closer than ever.
Final Score: Tonga 1 (Kuria Malohifo’ou 56’) – New Caledonia 0
