New Zealand made an impressive comeback to defeat Fiji 7-1, securing their place in the semi-finals at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in Tahiti.
Fiji initially took the lead in the 21st minute when Veleni Rasorewa, receiving a long pass from Krishna Samy Jnr, outran New Zealand captain Alex Lienard to score.
However, New Zealand responded swiftly with Aaron Cartwright equalizing shortly after by converting a through pass from Lienard.
New Zealand’s offensive strength was evident as they scored five more goals before halftime. Justin Cardozo and Luke Brooke-Smith were key players, with Brooke-Smith scoring a quick brace that broke down the Fijian defense.
In the second half, New Zealand continued to apply pressure, with Cartwright adding another goal to his tally and Brooke-Smith completing his hat-trick with a stunning long-range shot.
Despite the lopsided score, Fiji showed moments of resilience, particularly when Josaia Raikoso set up Rishal Shankar for a promising attack that went over the bar.
Benjamin Perez Baldoni of New Zealand finished the scoring with a seventh goal in stoppage time, securing an emphatic victory for his team.