Defending champions New Zealand have begun their OFC U-19 Men’s Championship title defence with a convincing 8-0 win over Tahiti on the opening day of Group B action at the Samoa Football HQ in Apia.
Searching for a 10th continental crown at this year’s championship in Samoa, New Zealand scored four goals in either half on their way to victory.
Nathan Martin opened the account inside the first ten minutes, sneaking an effort inside the bottom-left corner after being set-up by Bailey Fergsuon. The pick of the eight goals was the second, Aaron Cartwright cutting inside off the right flank and picking out the top-right corner of the net on his left foot.
The last meeting between the two nations had been in the semi-finals of the 2022 edition – a 2-0 win for New Zealand – but this contest proved far more one-sided. Harley Hill and Jayden Smith added to the New Zealand tally in the first half, deciding the outcome of the contest inside 45 minutes.
It was all about the substitutes after the break, Van Fitzharris coming off the bench to score two goals, and Oliver Grosso and Waisea Henry both also getting on the scoresheet to round it out.
New Zealand: 8 (Nathan MARTIN 8’, Aaron CARTWRIGHT 37’, Harley HILL 40’, Jayden SMITH 45+3’, Oliver GROSSO 60’, Van FIZTHARRIS 72’, 86’, Waisea HENRY 75’)
Tahiti: 0
HT: 4-0
Earlier in the day, Fiji came from behind to defeat Melanesian neighbours Vanuatu 7-2 at the Samoa Football HQ.
The Junior Bula Boys conceded first, but scored six second half goals, helped by a hat-trick from Ryan Naresh.
One of four players in the Fijian squad with professional experience for Bula FC in the OFC Pro League, Naresh scored all three of his goals within the space of ten minutes, the first of which arrived in the 67th minute.
He opened his account by poking the ball beyond goalkeeper Jesse Thomas after being played in-behind, then doubled his tally by pouncing on a goalkeeping error to tap into an open net. Naresh completed his hat-trick in style, calmly slotting home from close range into the bottom-right corner.
Abdullah Khairati, Ibraheem Afazal, Jovesa Uqe, and player of the match Nicholas Franklin, also featured on the scoreboard for Fiji, as they recorded their third consecutive victory over Vanuatu at U-19 level dating back to 2018.
Earlier in the match Rohan Masauvakalo had given Vanuatu the lead inside the first fifteen minutes after linking up with captain Jean Patriano Natou. That was as good as it got for them though, Jefta Taravaki adding a late consolation.
Seven goals is the most Fiji have scored in a U-19 Championship match since 2007, and puts them atop the Group A standings after one matchday alongside New Zealand, whom they will meet on Saturday. That will follow a clash between Vanuatu and Tahiti, of which the loser could face an early elimination.
Fiji: 7 (Abdullah KHAIRATI 26’, Ibraheem AFAZAL 46’, Jovesa UQE 57’, Ryan NARESH 67’, 71’, 77, Nicholas FRANKLIN 90+7’)
Vanuatu: 2 (Rohan MASAUVAKALO 15’, Jeftpa TARAVAKI 90+3’)
HT: 1-1
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek