New Zealand secured a spot in the finals of the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship by dominating New Caledonia with a 5-0 victory in Tahiti, also qualifying for next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
From the start, New Zealand asserted their dominance, with Aaron Cartwright scoring in just the 3rd minute. Cartwright skillfully maneuvered inside from the edge of the box and fired a powerful left-footed shot into the net.
New Caledonia faced difficulty in defending against New Zealand’s consistent pressure, despite several efforts, including a near miss from Cartwright that struck the crossbar. The scoreline expanded in the 29th minute, as Justin Cardozo capitalized on a cross from captain Alex Lienard to head in another goal.
Just before halftime, an indirect free-kick in the box allowed Cartwright to score again, tapping in a rebound and bringing his total to two goals in the match.
In the second half, New Zealand maintained their momentum, with Cartwright completing his hat-trick to extend the lead to four goals. Substitute Connor Smith later secured a penalty, capping off the match at five goals.
As New Zealand moves forward to the final, New Caledonia will regroup to participate in the third-place playoff, which still offers an opportunity for a World Cup spot.