New Zealand secured its record ninth OFC U-16 Men’s Championship title at Stade Pater in Papeete today, triumphing over a determined Fijian team with a score of 3-1 in a thrilling final.
The team, coached by Martin Bullock, took the lead early in the match with a goal from Nathan Martin in the 3rd minute. Fiji equalized in the 28th minute when Farhaan Khan launched a long free kick from just inside New Zealand’s half that was misjudged by goalkeeper Joseph Chalabi, allowing the ball to drift over him and into the net.
The teams went into halftime level at 1-1. The match saw both sides reduced to ten players in the 56th minute after a scuffle resulted in red cards for Fiji’s Veleni Rasorewa and New Zealand’s Nathan Martin, officiated by Papua New Guinea referee David Yareboinen.
Just five minutes later, New Zealand regained the lead when Luke Brooke-Smith capitalized on a corner that Fiji failed to clear, heading the ball into the net. Justin Cardoso then secured the victory for New Zealand with a well-executed strike that left Fiji’s goalkeeper Isoa Lutui unable to react in time.
Both teams will advance to the FIFA U17 World Cup taking place next year in Qatar.