New Zealand advanced to the finals of the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship after dominating New Caledonia with a 5-0 victory in Tahiti. This win also earned New Zealand a spot in the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
From the outset, New Zealand controlled the match, with Aaron Cartwright scoring in just the 3rd minute. He skillfully maneuvered inside from the edge of the box and powered a left-footed shot into the net.
Despite several opportunities, including a near goal from Cartwright that struck the crossbar, New Caledonia struggled to address the persistent Kiwi offense. New Zealand extended its lead in the 29th minute when Justin Cardozo headed in a cross from captain Alex Lienard.
Just before halftime, Cartwright capitalized on an indirect free kick in the box, tapping in a rebound and increasing his tally for the match.
In the second half, New Zealand maintained its momentum, and Cartwright completed his hat-trick, bringing the score to 4-0. Substitute Connor Smith later scored from a penalty, concluding the match at 5-0.
As New Zealand moves on to the final, New Caledonia will regroup for the third-place playoff, which still offers a chance at a World Cup qualification.