OFC U-17 Championship 2015

New Zealand at the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup 2015 round of 16 match between Brazil and New Zealand at Estadio Sausalito (Photo by Tom Dulat – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images).

The sixteenth edition of the OFC U-17 Championship took place in 2015 and doubled as qualification for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup™ in Chile. The tournament was held across Samoa and American Samoa, and was contested between all eleven OFC members. It was a round-robin format with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

All of Group A matches were played in Samoa, New Zealand dominated the group winning all five of their matches, however, runners up New Caledonia pushed the Kiwi side right to the final whistle going down 5-4. Group B matches were played in American Samoa, Tahiti topped this group by winning all four of their matches, with Vanuatu finishing runners up in the group.

Lucas Imrie of New Zealand shot on goal against Paraguay at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 (Photo by Victor Decolongon – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

In the first semi-final, defending champions New Zealand shot out to an early lead and never looked back securing a 5-1 victory against Vanuatu to reach the final, as for Tahiti they fought back from a goal down to beat New Caledonia 3-2 to reach the final for a fourth time.

Tahiti came within inches of claiming their maiden title but fell to New Zealand in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in the final. The win securing New Zealand’s fifth consecutive and sixth OFC U-17 Championship title.

FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup 2015 round of 16 match between Brazil and New Zealand at Estadio Sausalito (Photo by Tom Dulat – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images).

New Zealand had tough start to their FIFA U-17 World Cup™ campaign in Chile, taking on a talented French side, they suffered a 6-1 defeat in their opening match. However, NZ bounced back with a goalless draw against Syria before clinching a spot in the knockout stages for a third time, with a 2-1 win against Paraguay courtesy of a 91st minute goal from Lucas Imrie.

In the round of 16, New Zealand went face-t0-face with Brazil putting on a valiant display against a talented team, however, a heartbreaking 96th minute penalty from Luis Henrique ended any chance of an upset for the Oceania side.