Football Fern Grace Jale who scored twice in the win over Tonga. Photo: Photosport/Colombia Football
The Football Ferns have got off to a winning start in the Olympic women's qualifying tournament in Samoa with a 3-nil win over Tonga.
The winner of the tournament will qualify for the Paris Games later in the year.
Grace Jale opened the scoring in the second minute after the Tongan defence failed to clear from a corner.
The New Zealanders had arrived in Apia from around the world but took little time to adjust to the sweltering heat of 30 degrees plus as they ran the Tongan defence ragged in the opening quarter of an hour.
Ally Green put the Ferns up 2-nil from a penalty, after Mackenzie Barry was brought down inside the area while Jale had her second in the 16th minute when she cut inside and placed a curling right footed shot into the far corner.
But from there on in Tonga tightened up their defence and New Zealand were unable to break through again going goalless in the second half.
While New Zealand controlled possession in the second spell, they struggled to create many clear-cut opportunities.
New Zealand's next game is against the hosts Samoa on Saturday afternoon.
