New Zealand qualifies for Women’s World Cup, just two berths left

TORONTO – New Zealand crushed the Cook Islands 11-0 in Oceania qualifying Wednesday to become the 22nd country to book its ticket to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015.

The 19th-ranked Kiwis went unbeaten through the OFC Women’s Nations Cup in Papua New Guinea, outscoring its three opponents 30-0.

It’s the fifth time New Zealand has qualified for the Women’s World Cup. Now only two spots remain in the tournament field.

Trinidad and Tobago, which finished fourth in CONCACAF qualifying, will face Ecuador, the third-place finisher in South America, in an intercontinental playoff. The two-legged playoff will start Nov. 8 in Quito with the return leg Dec. 2 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Italy, the Netherlands, Scotland and Ukraine are currently embroiled in playoffs to decide the eighth and final European berth in Canada.

Italy will take a 2-1 lead to Lviv on Wednesday for the second leg of its semifinal with Ukraine while the Dutch hold a 2-1 advantage going into Thursday’s second leg with Scotland in Rotterdam.

The home-and-away final is scheduled for late November.

—

Qualified

Canada (host), Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Ivory Coast, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, U.S.