Football Ferns a step closer to World Cup

Amber Hearn was on the scoresheet for the Football Ferns.

The Football Ferns edged closer to securing a berth at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada on Monday via a 3-0 win over Papua New Guinea at the Oceania Women's Nations Cup in Kokopo.

Second half goals to Rebekah Stott, the defender's first international goal for the New Zealand side, Amber Hearn and Annalie Longo secured a hard-fought result against the hosts who battled gamely at the Kalabond Oval.

After a 4-1 win over the Cook Islands on Saturday, Papua New Guinea kept the Football Ferns at bay during the first half which saw goalkeeper Fidelma Watpore called into action regularly but the New Zealand side couldn't find the opener.

It took until the 59th minute for Stott to get the Football Ferns off the mark, a low drive from the edge of the box seeing the 27-cap central defender net for the first time for her country.

Hearn added the Football Ferns' second goal of the game - and her 39th for New Zealand - five minutes before the second half water break, pouncing on the ball in the area to fire home after Rosie White had headed goal wards.

Longo volleyed in the game's final goal two minutes into second half stoppage time.

Football Ferns coach Tony Readings said Papua New Guinea's tactics proved a tough nut to crack in stifling conditions.

"It was a lot hotter than it was in the last game," Readings said, "and Papua New Guinea employed completely different tactics to Tonga which they executed brilliantly.

"Against Tonga we were able to get in behind the defense but often with Papua New Guinea they put all their players behind the ball and it meant that it was difficult in the conditions to be able to break down a very compact defense.

"But we still created a whole bunch of chances so that's another thing we need to keep working on because we should have put the game to bed a lot earlier than we did."

After a 1-1 draw in Monday's match between the Cook Islands and Tonga, the Football Ferns can secure their passage to Canada on Wednesday with a draw against the Cook Islands and Readings says the focus in game three will be about applying the knowledge gained from both outings so far.

"There are a lot of learnings we can take from both games and we want to leave this tournament on the most positive note we can so it sets us up well for the big games we've got coming up next month."

Wednesday's match against the Cook Islands kicks off at 2pm (NZ time).

Oceania Nations Cup 2014
Papua New Guinea 0-3 Football Ferns (half: 0-0)
NZF: Rebekah Stott 59', Amber Hearn 70', Annalie Longo 90+2'
PNG: -