New Zealand U-17 footballers complete perfect record in pool play at Oceania champs – Stuff.co.nz

ANDREW VOERMAN

Last updated20:15, February 19 2017

ROBERT KITCHIN/FAIRFAX NZ

Max Mata (left) was on the scoresheet for the NZ U-17s.

The New Zealand under-17 men's football team have prepared for Wednesday's semifinal at the Oceania championships in perfect fashion.

They beat Fiji 5-0 at Stade Pater in Tahiti on Sunday afternoon, finishing pool play with a perfect three-win record, 18goals for and one against, and are just one win away from qualifying for October's World Cup in India,.

Matthew Jones opened the scoring in the 12th minute from a header, and completed his brace in stoppage time the same way.

In between, Elijah Just, in the 41st minute,and Max Mata, in the 76th, joined him on the scoresheet, while Charles Spragg scored from the penalty mark after him, his sixth goal of the tournament.

READ MORE: * NZ U-17s one win away from World Cup * NZ U-17s begin by thrashing Samoa

New Zealand will now play Papua New Guinea in the semifinals on Wednesday, with the winner securing a place at the World Cup, as both finalists qualify.

New Caledonia, who topped group A, will play the Solomon Islands in the other semifinal earlier that day, with the final then to follow on Saturday. The Solomon Islands made it in over Fiji from group B on goal difference, after beating Samoa 12-0 in Sunday's early match.

AT A GLANCE

Oceania Under-17 Championship Group B, Rd 3

New Zealand 5 (Jones 2, Just, Mata, Spragg) beat Fiji 0 HT: 2-0

-Stuff

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