New Zealand have franked their pre-tournament favourites’ tag with a dominant 9-0 win over Vanuatu in the opening match at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2024 in Tahiti.
Heavy morning rain had the pitch at Stade Fautaua under water three hours before kick-off, but it drained quickly, and conditions were good, if slightly greasy underfoot.
Coach Martin Bullock’s side dominated possession from the outset, and it was their power from a set piece which would reap the rewards.
New Zealand had the ball in the back of the net from a corner in the 14th minute, but the referee judged a foul had been committed inside the box and awarded a free kick to Vanuatu.
The Kiwis didn’t have to wait long to take the lead as from an in-swinging corner from Nathan Martin, captain Alex Lienard was unmarked in the six-yard box and stretched out to prod home in the 20th minute.
Main photo: Nathan Martin (left) and Luke Brooke-Smith celebrate a goal at the OFC Men’s U-16 Championship. Photo credit: OFC Media / DJ MIlls / Phototek.
Aaron Cartwright doubled the lead with a 29th-minute goal he curled in from a corner that bamboozled everyone, and a couple of minutes later, the impressive young winger forced a diving save from Junior Kaltaliu in the Vanuatu goal as New Zealand ramped up the pressure.
Vanuatu had been forced to defend deep throughout the half and were reliant on trying to catch the Kiwis on the counter.
They threatened on a couple of occasions with their pace and produced a few long-range efforts that didn’t seriously trouble Henry Murfitt in the New Zealand goal.
Five minutes from the break, Nickson Tari Bakeo came closest to giving his side a goal, breaking clear and curling a rasping right-footed effort that beat Murfitt who was off his line, only for the ball to thunder against the crossbar.
That was as close it got for Vanuatu as Luke Brooke Smith rifled a shot across the box that beat a despairing Kaltaliu to make it 3-0.
Van Fitzharris added a fourth before the break, turning inside the box and firing home in first-half stoppage time.
Bullock made a couple of changes to his New Zealand side at half-time and another early in the second-half to give as many of his players a taste of the conditions.
The young New Zealanders’ pressure continued, and they threatened on several occasions before Nathan Martin scored with a powerful right-footed effort after stepping inside two defenders in the box in the 58th minute.
Cartwright scored his second soon after with a lovely left-footed effort into the right corner before being substituted and later being named Player of the Match.
Fitzharris heaped more misery on the Vanuatu side with his second of the match, whilst substitute William Britton got in on the action two minutes later.
Another of the substitutes, Connor Smith, scored New Zealand’s ninth goal four minutes from full-time.
New Zealand face Fiji next, while Vanuatu must regroup to play the Cook Islands in the second round of Group A fixtures on Thursday (NZT).
WATCH: Highlights from New Zealand’s win at OFC U-16 Men’s Championship >>>>
Fiji leave it late to beat Cook Islands
Fiji scored deep into stoppage time to break Cook Islands’ hearts and open their campaign with a 2-1 win at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship.
Rishal Shanker scored twice — the second coming in the 96th minute — as Fiji were made to work hard for the three points by an outstanding Cook Islands side.
The reality is the Fijians had more than enough chances to win the game comfortably, but the Cook Islands players kept their composure and fought to the end until experiencing late heartbreak.
Ngati Manuel’s side made a spectacular start, missing a couple of half chances before deservedly taking the lead in the 12th minute through a fine strike by Harold Rasmussen.
Five minutes later Fiji should have equalised, but Tukai Ravonokula’s shot was brilliantly saved by a diving Tunui Tunui in the Cook Islands goal.
Ravonokula had another opportunity to level the scores, but his stinging shot was straight at Tunui who made the save.
The Cook islands keeper kept his side ahead with another sublime save from Ravonokula in the 24th minute.
Just before the break, Josaia Raikoso rifled a volley towards the goal, but Tunui was there once again to tip the ball over the crossbar.
Kenya Enoka then received a yellow card with a rash late tackle on Veleni Rasorewa but the resulting free-kick was ballooned high over the goal. There was time for a late chance for the Cook Islands to double their advantage after a mistake in the Fijian defence, but Josef Crocombe blasted over the bar.
Fiji continued to attack after coach Sunil Kumar made three changes at the break. Striker Veleni Rasorewa put the ball in the back of the net only to be ruled offside.
Thirteen minutes into the second half Fiji finally made the breakthrough when a cross from the right found the head of substitute Rishal Shankar, and this time Tunui could do nothing to stop the substitute from finding the back of the net.
The number 7 turned from hero to villain in the 66th minute when another ball across the goal found him unmarked, but he blasted the ball over the bar from close range.
Redemption for Shanker and the decisive moment for Fiji finally arrived deep into stoppage time, as substitute Ryan David broke down the right-hand edge of the box and his low cross was tucked away by Shankar to grab his second and secure a crucial three points for Fiji.
Acknowledgement
We are grateful for the help of OFC Media in providing information for this story.
What’s at stake
The two finalists at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship, and the third-placed team, will represent Oceania at next year’s FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar.
Results
Games played on Monday July 29, 2024
Group A
New Zealand 9 ( (Alex Lienard 20’, Aaron Cartwright 29’, 66′, Luke Brooke-smith 42’, Van Fitzharris 45+1’, 76′, Nathan Martin 58′, William Britton 78′, Connor Smith 86′)
Vanuatu 0
Fiji 2 (Rishal Shankar 58′, 90+6′)
Cook Islands 1 (Harold Rasmussen 12′)
Fixtures
Games to be played on August 1, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand v Fiji
Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti, 10am (NZT)
Cook Islands v Vanuatu
Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti, 1pm (NZT)
Game to be played on August 4, 2024 (NZT)
New Zealand v Cook Islands
Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti, 10am (NZT)
Vanuatu v Fiji
Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti, 1pm (NZT)
This story was first published on July 29, 2024.
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