New Zealand staged a dominant comeback to defeat Fiji 7-1, securing their spot in the semi-finals at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in Tahiti.
The Fijian side surprised tournament favorites New Zealand by taking the lead in the 21st minute. Veleni Rasorewa capitalized on a long pass from Krishna Samy Jnr, outrunning New Zealand captain Alex Lienard to score. However, New Zealand’s response was swift, with Aaron Cartwright tying the game shortly after by converting a through pass from Lienard.
New Zealand’s offensive might was on full display as they added five more goals before the halftime whistle. Justin Cardozo and Luke Brooke-Smith were instrumental, with Brooke-Smith scoring a rapid brace to dismantle the Fijian defense.
The Kiwis continued their relentless pressure in the second half, with Cartwright adding another to his tally and Brooke-Smith completing his hat-trick with a stunning long-range effort. Despite the heavy scoreline, Fiji showed glimpses of resilience, with Josaia Raikoso setting up Rishal Shankar for a promising attack, though it sailed over the bar.
Benjamin Perez Baldoni of New Zealand capped off the scoring spree with a seventh goal in stoppage time, sealing an emphatic victory for his team.