Cook Islands has made history by reaching the semi-finals of the OFC U19 Women's Championship after a breathtaking match against Vanuatu.

Vanuatu started the game strong, dominating possession and keeping the ball mostly in their opponent's territory.

However, they were unable to convert any of their early opportunities into goals.

Against the run of play, it was the Cook Islands who broke the deadlock with a stroke of luck.

Jan Taia launched a long-distance free-kick that managed to elude every player on the field before it was mishandled by Vanuatu's goalkeeper Manuela Bong.

The ball slipped through her grasp and rolled into the net, giving Cook Islands an unexpected lead.

Vanuatu responded with determination, and just over ten minutes later, they equalised through Elina Aruvuha.

She capitalized on a fortuitous ball over the Cook Islands' defence, beating goalkeeper Uini to the punch and heading it into the back of the net.

At the 64th minute, another key moment in the match occurred when Jan-Marie Taia took a corner kick and sent an excellent delivery through the air toward Tearoa Rouru.

Rouru was perfectly positioned to flick Taia's pass past Vanuatu's goalkeeper and into their net, bringing the scoreboard to 2-1 in favour of Cook Islands.

Despite regaining their composure and controlling much of the second half, Vanuatu was unable to find a breakthrough against Cook Islands' resolute defenders and had to settle for long-range shots and crosses from wide positions.

Meanwhile, Cook Islands' goalkeeper Kimberly Uini put in a flawless performance, snuffing out any threats on her goal.

This accomplishment marks a significant milestone for Cook Islands, as it is the first time since 2010 that the U19 women's team has reached the semi-finals of this prestigious competition.

They will face defending champions New Zealand tomorrow at 9pm Cook Islands time.

This upcoming match promises to be an uphill battle for both teams as New Zealand have demonstrated their prowess throughout this tournament.

However, having come this far already, Cook Islands will no doubt be motivated to continue their success story and prove they have what it takes to challenge the best in the region.

The Cook Islands' journey to the semi-finals of the OFC U19 Women's Championship has been nothing short of remarkable.

Overcoming formidable opposition and showcasing their talents on the big stage, these young women have done their country proud.

With their eyes now set on a clash with New Zealand, they will need to maintain this momentum and rise to the occasion if they hope to keep their dreams of glory alive.