OFC U-17 Championship 2005

Australia v Turkey – FIFA U-17 World Championship Peru 2005 – Group B – Nacional Stadium , Lima – 16/9/05 (Photo Credit: Action Images / John Sibley)

The eleventh edition of the OFC U-17 Championship took place in 2005 and doubled as qualification for the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship™ in Peru. The tournament was held in New Caledonia and was contested between nine nations.

Australia scored 35 goals in the Group A to advanced to the semi-finals alongside Vanuatu, while in Group B, despite a 5-0 defeat to the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia topped the group after securing a crucial 2-0 victory against Fiji in their match.

Australia’s Scott Jamieson and Turkey’s Deniz Yilmaz at the FIFA U-17 World Championship Peru 2005 – Nacional Stadium , Lima (Photo Credit: Action Images / John Sibley)

In the knockout stages, Australia pipped Solomon Islands 2-0, Vanuatu joined them in the final after a comprehensive 4-1 victory against the hosts. Australia’s reign of dominance continued, as they beat first-time finalists Vanuatu 1-0 in the final to claim a fourth consecutive and tenth OFC U-17 Championship title. It marked their final competition victory before transferring to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.

Australia opened their FIFA U-17 World Championship with defeats to Turkey and Mexico, before pulling off a brilliant 2-1 victory over South American side Uruguay. However three points wasn’t enough as they just missed on reaching the knockout stages in Peru.