New Zealand win OFC U-19 Championship with 3-0 final win against Fiji

posted in: News

New Zealand have won the OFC U-19 Championship, beating Fiji 3-0 in the tournament final in Tahiti.

The result capped a magnificent run at the tournament in which the New Zealanders:

  • Qualified for next year’s FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Indonesia, by reaching the tournament final.
  • Scored 33 goals in their six games.
  • Played nine hours of football without conceding a goal.
  • Strikers Kian Donkers and Oliver Colloty share the tournament Golden Boot with nine goals apiece.

READ MORE: New Zealanders take top individual awards, including most valuable player >>>>

Melville United striker Colloty proved a handful throughout the game, forcing an early save from goalkeeper Aydin Mustahib after 10 minutes.

Soon after, Colloty struck a shot over the bar.

He finally got one in the net when he headed home a cross from Oliver Fay in the 34th minute.

In the 40th minute, Colloty got his second, deftly heading over the ‘keeper, again from a Fay cross.

The sides turned around with New Zealand 2-0 ahead.

Fiji had their best spell of the game in the second half, with Lachlan Lai shooting against the New Zealand post.

But the New Zealanders put the result beyond doubt with 10 minutes to go when Jay Herdman hit a long-range effort that flew into the net.

For New Zealand, this was their eighth OFC U-19 title.

Main photo: New Zealand are crowned OFC champions. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.

Coach Darren Bazeley cops a traditional dousing from his players after their tournament victory.

Result

Game played on Sunday September 25, 2022 (NZT)

Final

New Zealand 3 (Oliver Colloty 34′, 40′, Jay Herdman 84′)
Fiji 0

Watch again

The coaching and support staff

New Zealand’s coaching and support staff celebrate winning the OFC U-19 Championship. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.

More football stories