New Zealand have secured progression to the final of the 2025 OFC U-16 Men’s Championship and qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026™ in Qatar with a 2-0 win over Papua New Guinea in Honiara.
Papua New Guinea held out valiantly for just over an hour, but eventually succumbed to the pressure as two second half goals secured victory for New Zealand in the day’s second semi-final.
New Zealand were missing their shooting boots early though, spurning at least four big chances in a goalless first half.
Striker Ben Perez Baldoni perhaps missed the best of the lot when played through one-on-one with Luther Rodney in just the 13th minute, but the Papua New Guinean goalkeeper stuck out a big right hand to deny his opponent and parry away.
Baldoni nodded a header inches over the top of the crossbar moments later, before Cailean Hamilton lashed a first-time effort in the same direction, as New Zealand continued to build pressure.
Despite not creating any clear-cut opportunities, Boas Tommy challenged New Zealand’s defence, and Papua New Guinea made him a continual target of long balls forward, well-supported by the work of Henry Bill in midfield.
Coach Martin Bullock painted a frustrated figure at the break though, Ben Trenberth firing a shot over the top from point-blank range, after a dangerous delivery into the box from Matias Nunez caused chaos just before half-time.
New Zealand were in need of something special, and it eventually came via the left boot of Matias Nunez in the 62nd minute.
The winger cut inside off his right flank, before blasting the ball past the arms of Rodney and into the bottom-left corner from a long way out to push his side in front.
Papua New Guinea’s resistance had finally been broken, and after missing numerous chances, Ben Perez Baldoni had his say from the penalty spot.
Baldoni doubled New Zealand’s lead in the 70th minute, winning a penalty kick, and duly converting with a cool finish into the bottom-right corner.
Chasing the game, Papua New Guinea’s best chance of the match came late on, but Boas Tommy failed to convert at the back post and his side finished empty-handed.
Instead New Zealand thought they’d scored a third goal when Keigo Shimokawa found the back of the net with five minutes to play, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
New Zealand go on to face New Caledonia in the final of the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2025 on Saturday night, whilst Papua New Guinea will have one last chance to reach the World Cup in Qatar when they face Fiji in the third place play-off.
New Zealand: 2 (Matias NUNEZ 62’, Ben Perez BALDONI 71’ P)
Papua New Guinea: 0
HT: 0-0
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek