New Zealand advanced to the finals of the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship with a commanding 5-0 victory over New Caledonia in Tahiti, also earning a place in next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
From the outset, New Zealand dominated the match, with Aaron Cartwright scoring in the 3rd minute after cutting inside from the edge of the box to deliver a powerful left-footed shot into the net.
Despite several opportunities, including a close second goal from Cartwright that struck the crossbar, New Caledonia struggled to keep up with New Zealand’s persistent offense.
New Zealand extended their lead in the 29th minute when Justin Cardozo headed in a cross from captain Alex Lienard. Just before halftime, Cartwright scored again by tapping in a rebound from an indirect free-kick inside the box, bringing his tally to two goals.
In the second half, Cartwright completed his hat-trick, putting New Zealand ahead by four goals. Substitute Connor Smith later added a penalty to finalize the score at 5-0.
As New Zealand looks forward to the final, New Caledonia will need to regroup for the third-place playoff, which still offers the chance for World Cup qualification.