A brilliant individual effort from captain Julia Honakoko six minutes from full-time has given New Caledonia a crucial 1-0 win over Vanuatu in an entertaining Group B opener at the OFC U-19 Women’s Championship in Tahiti.

The talismanic striker hit a curling right footed effort past a despairing Jineth Vanva in the Vanuatu goal when the match had seemed destined to end in a stalemate.

From the opening whistle there was plenty of skill and goal mouth action with both keepers, Vanva and Elizabeth Aben for New Caledonia delivering strong performances.

Both sides will feel they could have won the game, spurning several goal scoring opportunities each. New Caledonia had the early ascendency and captain Julia Honakoko forced a strong save from Vanva in the opening few minutes.

10 minutes in and Vanuatu skipper Angelina Poida broke down the right and fired her shot across the goal in what was Vanuatu’s first real attack. Poida then forced Aben to make a great save in the 16th minute after showing a great turn of spacer and skill to beat her marker.

22 minutes in Aziliz Naaoutchoue should have done better when she was delivered the ball on the penalty spot for New Caledonia but didn’t get enough power on her strike and Vanva was able to gather.

The chances kept coming and Naaoutchoue fired a right footed effort just wide of the goal in the 30th minute.

Five minutes before the break Vanuatu’s best chance of the half came when Poida rounded the keeper but took one touch too many and her shot was blocked by the New Caledonia defence.

Vanuatu’s Elina Aruvuha (L) & New Caledonia’s Ajassië Taine (R) at the OFC U-19 Women’s Championship 2025, New Caledonia v Vanuatu, Stade Paea, Tahiti, Monday 22 September 2025. Photo: DJ Mills / www.phototek.nz

Playing with the wind behind them New Caledonia pressed forward and applied plenty of pressure with Deyanera Michel firing just wide of the upright in the 53rd minute. Three minutes later Kourevi came close after a melee in the Vanuatu penalty area.

New Caledonia came within centimetres of taking the lead in the 65th minute when Honakoko fired just wide of the upright and it was cleared off the line.

Minutes later Vanuatu came close from a corner, but Aben put her body on the line to make a strong save. Aben was in the thick of the action moments later when she tipped the ball over the bar.

Then the moment of class from Honakoko to break Vanuatu hearts. The result will boost New Caledonia’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals from Group B, while Vanuatu must turn in strong performances against Tahiti and New Zealand to progress.

NEW CALEDONIA 1 (Julia HONAKOKO 84’)

VANUATU 0

HT: 0-0