New Zealand secured its ninth OFC U-16 Men’s Championship title in Papeete, defeating Fiji 3-1 at Stade Pater. Martin Bullock’s team was untroubled throughout the tournament.
The team appeared unstoppable, taking the lead in the third minute with a powerful strike by Nathan Martin.
Fiji’s Sunil Kumar’s team maintained composure to fend off New Zealand, but New Zealand remained resilient.
In the 28th minute, Farhaan Khan’s free kick equalized for Fiji. After missed opportunities, both teams went into the break level.
However, the game took a dramatic turn when both Fiji’s Veleni Rasorewa and New Zealand’s Nathan Martin were sent off in the 56th minute.
Five minutes later, Luke Brooke-Smith scored, putting New Zealand back in the lead. Despite a fine save from Fiji’s goalkeeper, Justin Cardoso secured New Zealand’s victory with another goal.
New Zealand’s solid performance allowed them to control possession for the remainder of the match, sealing a well-deserved win.
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