New Caledonia have opened their 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup™ campaign with a 6-1 defeat to Portugal at the Aspire Zone in Doha.
The OFC representatives stunned the European champions by taking the lead and remaining level on the scoreboard at the half-time break, before ultimately falling to defeat and conceding five second half goals.
2025 marks New Caledonia’s third appearance at a FIFA U-17 World Cup™, qualifying for the tournament after finishing third at the 2024 OFC U-16 Men’s Championship.
Portugal’s striker, Anisio Cabral, thought he’d opened the scoring with a header inside the first ten minutes, only for the video assistant referee (VAR) to intervene, disallowing the goal and ruling a penalty for New Caledonia down the other end.
Ezekiel Wamowe powered the spot kick into the back of the net, handing New Caledonia a shock lead in the 11th minute, and scoring their first goal at the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ since 2017’s famous draw with Japan.
Cabral wasn’t going to be denied a second time though, levelling the scores for Portugal in the 22nd minute with a header into the top-right corner.
Portugal bossed over 80% of the possession throughout the game, but found themselves frustrated by New Caledonia at half-time, Manuel Figueiredo hitting the crossbar, as it remained 1-1 at the break.
New Caledonia had done so well to hang on, but two goals in just eight minutes at the start of the second half allowed the European champions to pull away.
Cabral scored his second in the 47th minute after latching onto a low cross off the right flank, before Stevan Manuel scored Portugal’s third in the 53rd with a low-driven left-footed shot from close range.
Mateus Mide made it four in the 59th minute, sweeping the ball into the bottom-left corner with a right-footed effort from outside the box.
Goalkeeper Nicolas Kutran made a number of top saves in-between the sticks, but couldn’t stop Mauro Furtado from adding Portugal’s fifth in the 85th minute.
Jose Neto rounded out the scoring with the sixth goal in the final moments of stoppage-time, lashing a sumptous left-footed volley into the bottom-right corner of the net.
Whilst not being able to hold on for a positive result, New Caledonia can take plenty of encouragement, and will continue their FIFA U-17 World Cup™ campaign against Japan at the Aspire Zone in Doha on Friday (NZT).
New Caledonia: 1 (Ezekiel WAMOWE (P) 11’)
Portugal: 6 (Anisio CABRAL 22’, 47’, Stevan MANUEL 53’, Mateus MIDE 59’, Mauro Furtado 85′, Jose NETO 90+7′)
HT: 1-1