Sport: PNG take the positives from crushing World Cup defeat

2:39 pm on 15 November 2016

Despite being on the wrong end of a 9-0 scoreline, Papua New Guinea coach Lisa Cole said their opening match at the FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup was a valuable learning experience for the team.

Playing against football powerhouse Brazil at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby, PNG went behind after only six minutes and were clinically outclassed in their Group A opener.

It's the first time PNG have participated in a FIFA World Cup tournament and Cole said it was an unforgettable occasion.

"It was a huge moment. You have the opening ceremony happening before we come onto the field, you have over 12 thousand people in the stands cheering on Papua New Guinea and you couldn't imagine ... there's players that were in tears coming out onto the field," she said.

"It's that moment you never thought was going to happen in your life and you're there so we had to deal with that a little bit early on, just the emotions of the moment.

"But I hope what happens with that moment is that young girls saw that their dreams can come true, that maybe we didn't have the result we wanted but in the future, with time and programming, PNG could be in a different place in the next World Cup and anything's possible."

The PNG Under 20 women's team line-up before their World Cup opener against Brazil.

The PNG Under 20 women's team line-up before their World Cup opener against Brazil. Photo: PNG Football Association

Lisa Cole said it was always going to be a big ask coming up against the South American age-grade champions.

"We weren't expecting to come out of there with a result. We were just trying to get the experience and make sure that we improve from one half to the next," she said.

"We just want as many lessons as we can in this World Cup so there's a possibility of preparing this young team for what's next in their careers - asking a team that hasn't played ever in (major) competition to go out in the World Cup against Brazil is a huge ask for a young team.

"Even right at the very end of the game we were able to create a couple of chances for ourselves that could have turned into goals and that's what we're looking for."

Papua New Guinea is hosting the FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup.

Papua New Guinea is hosting the FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup. Photo: PNG Football

Papua New Guinea's next match is against Sweden tomorrow night.

Meanwhile Oceania U20 champions New Zealand claimed a last-gasp 1-0 win over Ghana to go top of Group C.

The FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup opening ceremony at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby.

The FIFA Under 20 Women's World Cup opening ceremony at Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby. Photo: PNG Football Association