New Zealand are through to the quarter-finals of the OFC U-19 Championship 2022 following a resounding 9-0 win over American Samoa at Stade Fautaua in Papeete, Tahiti.
The Solomon Islands have also progressed after a hat-trick from Oliver Colloty helped New Zealand to a comfortable victory and left the top two clear of their Group A rivals – after the Solomons beat the Cook Islands 3-0 earlier today.
New Zealand came into the game as the comfortable pre-match favourites but were made to work hard in the early stages by an American Samoa side intent on holding out as long as possible.
The Junior All Whites had to wait nearly half an hour to break their duck, Jackson Manuel eventually firing home from the edge of the box.
Colloty bundled home his first and New Zealand’s second ten minutes later before Charlie Beale’s sublime curling effort from the edge of the box stretched the advantage to three. Captain Finn Surman then tapped in from close range to make it 4-0 in first-half stoppage time.
Colloty earned his hat-trick with a penalty and well-placed header in the second-half while American Samoa were nearly gifted a chance to score when New Zealand goalkeeper Oscar Mason dropped the ball at Petu Pouli’s feet.
Beale’s exquisite touch and volley made it seven before substitute Kian Donkers scored from the spot for eight.
These two nations last faced off in a OFC U-19 Championship clash back in 1998, with New Zealand winning 8-0 on that occasion and the seven-time winners bettered that result when Donkers completed his brace for nine.
New Zealand will take on fellow Group A qualifiers Solomon Islands in their final pool fixture on Tuesday, September 13 in a first and second placed decider. American Samoa will face the Cook Islands on the same day.
New Zealand U-19 9 (Jackson MANUEL 27′, Oliver COLLOTY 36′, 49′ pen, 58′, Charlie BEALE 40′, 73′, Finn SURMAN 45+2, Kian DONKERS 75′, 84′)
American Samoa U-19 0
Half-time: 4-0