Football Ferns v Papua New Guinea live updates: Fifa World Cup spot up for grabs

Live updates of the Fifa World Cup qualifier between the Football Ferns and Papua New Guinea.

- New Zealand had a penalty denied by VAR shortly before halftime.

- VAR also denied a Deven Jackson goal for off-side.

- Winner qualifies for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Three hundred and ninety one goals scored – and just six against.

If you want to understand the crazy dominance of the Football Ferns over their Oceania rivals, that is one statistic that will blow your mind. The Ferns, who face Papua New Guinea on Wednesday night (7:15pm) for a ticket to the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup, have been light years ahead of their Pacific opposition since the first official contests back in 1983.

Across that time New Zealand have faced Oceania teams in 46 matches – and won 45 of them, with the solitary exception a 1-1 draw with Papua New Guinea in Auckland in 1996. Records provided by Football Ferns historian Jeremy Ruane show that in those games they have scored a staggering 391 goals – an average of more than eight per match – and conceded on just six different occasions.

Their supremacy have been even more pronounced in the World Cup qualifying arena, where they haven’t had a goal scored against them since 2007. The mismatches are not good for anyone – or the sport – but that is the reality of the development of Oceania women’s football. There have been significant gains made in recent years, especially Papua New Guinea, who impressed in a 2-0 loss to Panama in an intercontinental playoff for a spot at the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup. But New Zealand has continued to improve at a faster rate, which has maintained the gulf.

The lack of jeopardy means Wednesday’s match is a fait accompli for Michael Mayne’s team. They won’t take anything for granted – and will bring a professional approach – but it is difficult not to be complacent given their past record, along with the qualifying series so far, where the Ferns have scored 24 goals without reply in four games.

But Mayne has been building a new squad and culture over the last 12 months and this is another chance to play together, in front of their home fans.

“We know there are potential threats, but we also have seen some opportunities,” said Mayne on Tuesday. ”We just want to put on a show for our supporters.”

New Zealand are looking to qualify for their seventh Fifa Women’s World Cup on Wednesday, after being involved in 1991, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023.

The 1991 effort was an outlier, as they had to get past the might of Australia to reach the global showpiece. Since 2006 the Matildas haven’t been part of the equation, given Australia moved to the Asian confederation that year.

Fifa Women’s World Cup – Oceania qualifiers final

New Zealand v Papua New Guinea

North Harbour Stadium, 7:15pm

Football Ferns all time record vs Oceania nations

Played 46

Won 45

Drawn 1

Lost 0

Goals scored: 391

Goals conceded: 6

Statistics provided by Football Ferns historian Jeremy Ruane

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