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Cameroon will face Portugal in Hamilton on
Wednesday and Haiti will take on Chile in Auckland on the same
day to secure two of the three remaining spots at the July
20-Aug. 20 World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.
Four teams will play a straightforward knockout tournament
starting on Sunday when Taiwan take on Paraguay in Hamilton and
Papua New Guinea face Panama in Auckland. The winners will meet
on Thursday in a game that will decide the final qualifier.
Cameroon, who reached the last 16 at the 2015 and 2019 World
Cups, triumphed at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton following two
late goals from substitute Gabrielle Onguene in a chaotic match
that featured 24 minutes of added time.
Onguene opened the scoring in the 79th minute by connecting with
a squared pass from Ajara Nchout before wrapping up the victory
with another sublime strike three minutes later.
Cameroon were reduced to 10 players deep into stoppage time when
goalkeeper Ange Bawou was sent off after a lengthy VAR check for
a foul on Jiraporn Mongkoldee.
Bawou, who came off her line and collided with the onrushing
Mongkoldee, will miss Cameroon's clash with Portugal.
Earlier, Haiti earned a comprehensive win after Roselord
Borgella scored twice while Kethna Louis and Nerilia Mondesir
bagged a goal each at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.
Haiti took the lead in the 45th minute after defender Louis rose
highest to head in a corner kick taken by midfielder Sherly
Jeudy and captain Mondesir made it 2-0 in the 55th minute after
slotting home a cross from fellow forward Melchie Dumonay.
Borgella scored the third in the 64th minute with a brilliant
effort before adding another within two minutes to seal the win
for Haiti, who are looking to qualify for the Women's World Cup
for the first time.
This year's World Cup, where the United States are defending
champions, will be the first edition to feature 32 teams.
(Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; editing by Stephen
Coates and Michael Perry)
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