The Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea have set the stage at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship 2025 with a 1-1 draw in the opening match of Group A.
Aggressors throughout, Papua New Guinea spurned numerous chances and were forced to come from behind to secure a share of the points at Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara.
Appearing at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship for the first time since 2018 after progressing through the qualifying tournament earlier in the year, Papua New Guinea made a bright start and should have scored inside the first twelve minutes.
First, Boas Tommy placed a close-range shot at Tearii Scheel following a cross off the right flank, before John Millis forced a save from the goalkeeper and spurned the rebound inches over the bar, all in the space of 90 seconds.
Papua New Guinea remained on the front foot for the majority of the first half and came close again when Tommy had his effort blocked off the line by a Cook Islands defender just moments before the half-time interval.
They were made to pay for those missed chances straight after the break, when the Cook Islands pressed high down the right flank, and substitute Joseph Rua made an instant impact, picking out the bottom-left corner of the net on his right foot to open the scoring.
Tommy was the top-scorer at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship Qualifying tournament in Tonga earlier in the year, but he was missing his shooting boots.
He lifted a first-time effort over the crossbar, and then had another shot blocked off the goal-line as Papua New Guinea desperately went in search of an equaliser.
The goal finally came in the 76th minute, when the Cook Islands cleared another Tommy effort, but John Millis turned the ball home on the rebound to level the scores.
Both sides are back in Group A action on Wednesday, when Papua New Guinea face Tahiti, and the Cook Islands tackle Fiji.
Cook Islands: 1 (Joseph RUA 47’)
Papua New Guinea: 1 (John MILLIS 76’)
HT: 0-0