Kiwi women Rio-bound after PNG withdrawal
The New Zealand women's football team confirmed their spot at the Rio Olympics on Monday after Papua New Guinea's late withdrawal from a qualification match, the Oceania Football Confederation said.
The "Football Ferns" were scheduled to host PNG in the second leg of the Oceania qualifier on Tuesday night after winning the first leg 7-1 on Saturday.
But the OFC said PNG had informed FIFA that its team would not travel to Auckland for the fixture, handing New Zealand a place at the Games.
New Zealand Football chief executive Andy Martin said there were mixed feelings about the manner in which the team qualified.
"While we're obviously delighted the Football Ferns will be making the trip to Rio, we're disappointed tonight's game will not be going ahead and we won't get the chance to secure our place on the field in front of our fans," he said.
It means the Kiwi women have qualified for three successive Olympics, with a quarter-final in London their best showing.
The New Zealand men's team were disqualified from Olympic qualification last July after fielding an ineligible player, opening the way for Fiji to go to Rio.