New Zealand have won the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship with an impressive win against New Caledonia in the final in Apia.
The defending champions clinched back-to-back OFC titles with a 4-0 win, a result that means the New Zealanders went through the tournament without conceding a goal in any of their five matches.
Main photo: New Zealand are the OFC U-19 Men’s champions. Photo credit: OFC Media / DJ Mills / Phototek.
Lachlan Candy’s goal late in the first half was the decisive moment in a match where both teams worked hard to assert themselves but struggled to maintain consistent front-foot pressure.
Coach Chris Greenacre’s side’s unbreached defence were under pressure early on, with Jythrim Upa finding space in the box, only for his low effort to lack the pace to trouble goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald.
James Bulkeley had the Kiwis’ first real chance of the contest but his header from a Nathan Walker free-kick drifted harmlessly over the bar.
Louis Brunet, one of many standouts for New Caledonia throughout the tournament,went closest in the opening period for his side, flashing a well-struck effort just wide, with Kelly-Heald scrambling to cover.
New Zealand grew into the match as the half ticked on, and Candy was presented with a wonderful opportunity from a central position in the box, but he snatched at the chance, which bobbled wide.
Candy made amends minutes later, however. The midfielder found himself in a similar position when Stipe Ukich’s cross found Luke Supyk, and his cutback pass was finished well by Candy to break the deadlock.
The no.10 had the opportunity to grab a second and double New Zealand’s lead, but his free-kick from out on the left side was punched clear by New Caledonia goalkeeper Ryan Saulia.
Two goals in the space of three minutes provided the defining moments of the second-half, both coming from New Zealand forward Luke Supyk.
His first was a powerful near-post header, connecting with a Nathan Walker free-kick that beat the grasp of Saulia to double the lead.
Moments later, Supyk had the chance to score his second when awarded a penalty, a decision that saw New Caledonia defender Wadria Hanye dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Supyk made no mistake with the spot kick, side-footing confidently to the left of the goalkeeper to make it 3-0 and leaving New Caledonia with a mountain to climb.
It was a task that got even tougher as the match reached its final quarter of an hour,
James Bulkeley headed home from close range, an effort that ‘keeper Saulia frustratingly watched slip through his grasp.
Multiple substitutions took much of the sting out of the match, with New Caledonia searching for a goal and New Zealand happy to try and keep them at arm’s length.
The victory marks a perfect end to a flawless campaign for New Zealand.
New Caledonia will take heart from a strong showing in Samoa and can look ahead to next year’s FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Chile.
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Solomon Islands take third place with 4-2 win
Solomon Islands overcame Fiji 4-2 in a hard-earned victory to take third place at the tournament.
The first half was high on intensity and effort but low on chances created, with Fiji enjoying the bulk of possession but struggling to convert that into clear-cut chances.
Defender William Khan had the best opportunity of the opening period, but his back post header from a free-kick was too high to trouble George Harrison Rioa in the Solomon Islands goal.
Fiji almost found the breakthrough as the half came to a close. Eparama Moraica broke through on the left but his effort on the angle was saved well by Roia.
The second half more than made up for a below-par first, with two goals inside the opening nine minutes.
Paul Francis, who came off the bench at half time, opened the scoring for Solomon Islands, curling a low free-kick from just outside the area around wall, beating goalkeeper Ilisoni Koro.
It was a lead that wasn’t to last much more than five minutes however, as Fiji were given the perfect opportunity to strike back from the penalty spot.
Captain Penisoni Tirau was bundled over in the box and William Khan stepped up, confidently tucking the ball into the corner, past the outreached glove of Rioa.
The impressive Francis, who made an impact after his half-time introduction, was again the main man for Solomon Islands, capitalising on a defensive mistake in the Fiji backline and tucking the ball past Koro to re-establish his side’s lead.
A crucial third goal for the Solomon Islands finally arrived in the 83rd minute. James Laena broke down the right side, outstripping the Fijian defence and squaring for Besa Zopoa to steer into the empty net.
Fiji pulled one back late on, when Penisoni Tirau’s shot was too much to handle for Rioa, as Fiji looked to mount a late comeback.
Any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Solomon Islands added a fourth in stoppage time. Paul Francis took advantage of the refereeing waving play on, to place a left-footed shot in off the post and complete his hat-trick.
The win caps an impressive tournament from the Solomon Islands, with their third-place finish the perfect response to their semi-final defeat to New Caledonia.
Acknowledgement
We are grateful for the help of OFC Media in providing information for this story.
Photo credit: OFC Media / DJ Mills / Phototek.
Result
Games played on Thursday July 18, 2024
Final
New Caledonia 0
New Zealand 4 (Lachlan Candy 37’, Luke Supyk 64′, 67′pen, James Bulkeley 74′)
Play-off for third
Solomon Islands 4 (Paul Francis 48’, 65′, 90+3′, Besa Zopoa 83′)
Fiji 2 (William Khan (53’ pen, own goal 88′)
This story was first published on July 18, 2024.
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