Sky Sport NZ

Spark Sport

Podcasts

FIFA+

Conferences

Divisions

Australia

England

New Zealand

Error

Japan Rugby League One (Div 2)

Men's Central League 2

Japan Rugby League One (Div 3)

Australian NBL

NZ NBL (Men)

Japan Rugby League One (Div 1)

AUSW tour of NZLW

Indian Premier League

International Men's Cricket

International Women's Cricket

NZ Plunket Shield

PAK tour of NZL

World Test Championship

ARU Men's Knockout Cup Div 1

FIH Pro League (Men)

FIH Pro League (Women)

Men's Internationals

Women's Internationals

A-League Men

A-League Women

AFC WC Qualifiers

AFCON

Austrian Bundesliga

Belarusian Premier League

CAF WC Qualifiers

Central League

Chinese Super League

Club World Cup

CONCACAF Champions Cup

CONCACAF Nations League

CONMEBOL WC Qualifiers

Copa del Rey

Coppa Italia

Coupe de France

DFB Pokal

Dutch Eredivisie

English Championship

English League One

English League Two

English National League

English Premier League

FA Cup

French Ligue 1

German 2. Bundesliga

German 3. Liga

German Bundesliga

Gold Cup

Greek Super League

Indian Super League

Irish Premier Division

Italian Serie A

Italian Serie B

Japanese J-League

Leagues Cup

Men's Capital Premier

Men's International Friendlies

Mexican Liga MX

National League (Men)

Northern League

NRFL Men's Championship

NRFL Men's Northern

NRFL Men's Southern

NRFL Women's Premier

NWSL

OFC Champions League

OFC WC Qualifiers

OFC Women's Olympic Qualifiers

Polish Ekstraklasa

Portuguese Primeira Liga

Romanian Liga I

Russian Premier Liga

Scottish Premiership

South Korean K-League 1

Southern League

Spanish La Liga

Spanish Segunda Division

Swedish Allsvenskan

Swiss Super League

Turkish Super Lig

UEFA Champions League

UEFA Conference League

UEFA Europa League

UEFA Nations League

UEFA WC Qualifiers

UEFA Women's Euros

US Open Cup

Women's Capital Premier

Women's Super League

Netball Superleague

Hostplus Cup

NSW Cup

RFL Championship

RFL League One

State of Origin

Super League

ARU Men's Premier Div 1

ARU Women's Premier

Bledisloe Cup

CMRFU Men's Division 1

CRFU Country Div 1

CRFU Metro Premier

European Challenge Cup

European Champions Cup

French Pro D2

French Top 14

HBRFU Premier

Hong Kong 7s (Men)

Hong Kong 7s (Women)

International Men's Rugby

International Men's U20 Rugby

International Women's Rugby

Japan Rugby League One

Lions Tour

Major League Rugby

MCRU Senior

Miles Toyota Championship

Miles Toyota Premiership

MRFU Senior 1

NHRU Men's Premier 1

NRU Premier

NZ 1st XV Rugby (Boys)

ORFU Central Premier

ORFU Metro Premier

Pacific Four Series

Premiership Rugby

Ranfurly Shield

RFU Championship

SCRFU Men's Premier

Super Rugby

Super Rugby Aupiki

Super Rugby Pacific

Super Rugby U20

Super W

SVNS (Men)

SVNS (Women)

The Rugby Championship

TRFU Men's Premier

U20 World Champs

United Rugby Championship

Women's Rugby World Cup

Women's Six Nations

WRFU Men's Premier

WRU Premier A

SHOT!! It's a very open game now, Riley bringing it up the left at will. She plays a one-two with Jale near the box and unleashes a shot from 15 yards, too close to Salanoa, though. 

Maybe some tiredness or the effects of the heat taking a toll, but Hand of all people plays a pass over the byline as Neville tries to run it down on the right. 

THERE'S THE OPENER AND IT'S THANKS TO KATIE BOWEN!! Her pass up the right channel from half way is on the money for Jale to run onto and square a perfect ball across the Samoa goalbox. Literally on the spot is Jacqui Hand, who bundles it past the onrushing keeper for the opener!! Very slick!

And that's the last of Riley. In comes Hassett - a real goal-scorer for the Ferns!

Macey Fraser is dropping in and looking for the ball to the back post on either side, where the Samoa marking is lacking. This time, Hand has a go at the cross from the right, but yep, it's tired and straight to Salanoa. 

CLOSE FOR THE FERNS AGAIN!! And again it's Bowen! Her ball from the central attacking third into the box for Riley puts her one-on-one with Salanoa but she can only blaze over!

WOODWORK!! Jale hits the penalty to the right and it comes off the woodwork, off Salanoa's head and back to Jale! But she's crowded out and the danger passes!

OH, IT"S ALL GONE WRONG FOR SAMOA! Bowen squares the free kick to Fraser, who plays a lovely line-breaking pass to Neville attacking the box. Her squared ball from the right byline goes in off the keeper (or possibly a defender) and it's a third for the White Ferns. Yes, it's off the back of the defender Dade, a couple of yards out from the line.

Kitching has one more run in her tired legs, running up the middle in the attacking third and linking up with Jale. It's played backwards, though, and that should be that for the first half. 

The Ferns attack again. Foster loses it again but Barry wins it back on halfway. Lots of space for Stott and Nathan up the middle, then Hassett and Green on the left. Soifua hoofs it clear but only as far as Stott, who charges into the box on the left and shoots - blocked and out for a corner. 

It was a messy start to the game, with Hand bundling over from close range to open the scoring. The miss from Salanoa soon after was punished by Kate Taylor moments later and then Neville for the second and third goals, and then Fraser to make it four before half time. It was a little slower in the second spell but pretty much one-way traffic. Jale missed a penalty but it was a short respite for the home team, Ally Green lashing it in soon after. Foster rounded out the game with an Olympico straight from the corner and that was enough for the day. A satisfactory performance from the White ferns and Samoa will have no complaints, outclassed from early on.

Kitching is human!! Stott does well on the left, skipping past a couple and playing a nice ball central along the halfway for Kitching. The midfielder proves she's fallible today with an overcooked ball to the left for Green - it goes out. 

Back under way and back to business as usual - the Ferns in possession and Samoa with 11 players behind the ball. Foster and Riley work it down the left and Foster's cross is on Jale's head to the right of goal! Saved well by Salanoa (the other sister!).

Good afternoon and welcome to an absolutely sweltering FFS Football Stadium in Apia, Samoa. It's time for New Zealand's Football Ferns and the hometown side to see if they can all but book their place in the semi-final with a win in their Group B clash today. I'm Carl Allport with all of the action live for you here on Tribe. 

TEAM NEWS - SAMOA: Only 3 changes to the home side today. Standout substitutes from the Vanuatu game Taeaoalii and Jessop have come into the starting XI, joined by Alexandrea Ape-Paia. Out go Murray-Kumitau, Stewart and Fischer. 

Stott with a lovely ball for Riley up the middle in the box and she's bowled over by Uluvili for a clear-cut penalty.

NZ come down the left this time, Riley looking dangerous out there. She squares a ball from the left near the box to Kitching in the middle, but the Samoa defence is better now and the marking is up to scratch. They've sensed the danger in Kitching and responded. 

Samoa huffed and puffed against Vanuatu and should consider themselves fortunate to come away with the W. But they would have noticed in the Ferns game how much the heat and humidity sapped the kiwis after only a quarter of the match. They'll back themselves to hold out for 20 or 30 minutes here, and then possibly overrun their opponents in the second spell, buoyed on by their home fans. It's a big ask, but don't count them out. 

New Zealand will have to start well again, knowing full well how a goal or two could totally change the complexion of this match. Regardless of conditions, they'll still be expecting a performance and a comfortable win. As they showed 3 days ago, the longer the game goes on, the tougher that will be. 

SO CLOSE!! Bowen-Fraser-Hand connect up the middle and then it's out to Jale on the right again. Her low cross is nicely into the path of (you guessed it) Kitching, attacking the back post, but her shot from 5 yards out is smothered by Salanoa, who is keeping the scoreline in check (just!).

The whistle goes and it's a much better performance from the White Ferns as they power to a six-goal win and all but book their place in the semis with a Group B game to come for them. 

The Ferns are trying to knock it about in the defensive third but Jale's pass is straight into touch. Salanoa crosses from deep on the left but cut out by Stott. Samoa starting brightly. 

The last drinks break now. A bit more pep in the step from the kiwis after that goal. 

MACEY FRASER DOES WHAT MACEY FRASER DOES!! The free kick is 25 yards out, dead in front. Fraser just lifts it into the top left corner of the goal and out of the reach of Salanoa!! 

A slower buildup from NZ now, all the way from Leat in goal. Fraser and Kitching are dynamite in the middle, and they find Jale on the right again. It's worked back to the left by Foster, and now Neville finds Kitching on the left touchline. She dribbles to the box, cuts in on her right foot and unleashes. Straight to Salanoa, though. 

FREE HEADER FROM THE CORNER!! Hooked in again by Foster from the right for Hassett to head from the middle of the box, but wide!! That should be about all for today. 

WOODWORK FOR SAMOA!! A slow start for the Ferns. They're awoken by Dade lifting a cross/shot from the left wing, ONTO THE WOODWORK and out! 

SHOT!! The corner is held by Leat and the counter-attack launched. Riley is offside but the free kick goes straight to a Fern and Hand takes off down the right. She releases Fraser on the overlap and she crosses for Jale to shoot on the volley, but it's not timed and straight to the keeper. 

6 more minutes, and it looks like the score can only come at one end now. 

A chance for Eldridge to impress in the last 5 or 10 minutes. Dade has done well but she's done for today. 

CHANCE!! Jale comes down the left channel now, and it's 4-on-2 for the Ferns! Jale squares a ball to Kitching but it's behind her and Fraser is tackled as she picks up the loose ball. 

So it's goodbye from me for now, I'm Carl Allport signing off a comprehensive Football Ferns win on behalf of Tribe. 

Some lovely one-touch football as Bowen wins the ball in defence and lays it off to Foster, Jale is next and she unleashes Hand on the right. As she skips past Soifua, she almost gets to the byline, but the Samoa defender recovers to make the crucial tackle. 

The Salanoa sisters are trying to link up on the left, but they'll do well to get past Neville and Bowen down there. It's Taylor who wins the ball this time, but Foster whose first-time ball is intercepted. 

Too much on the corner from Foster on the left. It's swung back around to the left by Hassett for Foster again. She shoots from 20 yards but straight to Salanoa.

CLOSE!! Green tears up the left after a little reverse-pass from Foster. She skins Tuatagaloa and centres for Jale, but it takes a touch off Dade and into the arms of Salanoa. SHE SPILLS IT and Dade has to clear it to avert another catastrophe. 

The goal kick comes all the way back to the NZ defence and they play it about a bit more. Nathan gets a ball on the left and passes to Hassett entering the box - she still wants a goal! The tackle comes in and it's a corner. 

The home side will be wondering "What If" after the older Salanoa sister missed that chance to equalise. They've been poor with their marking, though, and can only blame themselves for giving time and space to Macey Fraser and whoever-is-on-the-back-post. Their hope is for the youngest Salanoa to keep the score respectable down back, while the older two sisters try to carve out a chance - Xevani did just that, and Xehlia has looked good since her introduction. 

Gabi Rennie is on - looking for more goals are the kiwis! Jale is off and a well-deserved rest. 

We're back under way as Samoa kick off and Bowen again with the intercept for the Ferns. 

The Ferns working the ball around, taking the pace out of the game and looking forward to a drink and maybe a cold shower in the sheds in a couple of minutes. Bowen receives 30 out from goal and is fouled for another potential Macey Fraser Special .

SHOT AGAIN!! Hand and Riley work it well down the left. Riley again finds herself in a pocket of space, this time just inside the box, and she shoots powerfully - parried again and hooked out for a corner before Jale can pounce on the rebound! Getting close!!

Almost walking pace by both sides now, Samoa sitting off and NZ playing across the back four. Then Taylor sees Kitching making a run in the right passing lane and gets it to her in the box. She's crowded out, though, and the ball will break free for Fraser to shoot, but that's blocked. 

Ape-Paia is a little distressed and comes off for the third Salanoa sister. 

Macey Fraser gets us under way and immediately NZ attack down the left with Riley. She's bowled over but no foul called and Samoa counterattack! Taeaoalii takes off down the Samoa left and Foster can only tackle for a Samoa corner. 

SHOT!! AND ANOTHER SHOT!! Riley finds a pocket of space in the left channel and cuts onto her right foot. Her shot from the edge of the box is parried into the path of Jale but she can't time it from 6 yards out.

Time for a water break and the Samoa gaffer to tear a few strips off his defenders. 

NZ still looking to attack and score as Samoa tire. Barry makes time and space for herself on the right and sends it in for Nathan, but it's too deep.

undefined vs undefined