New Zealand have suffered their first loss of the OFC U-16 Championship, going down 5-0 to the hosts Solomon Islands who were impressive at Lawson Tama Stadium tonight in Honiara.

The José Figueira coached team, who opened with an emphatic 8-0 win over Vanuatu on Sunday, were outshone by the determined Solomon Islands side who produced a performance of real quality to upset the defending champions in the hot and humid conditions.

Solomon Islands wonder-kid Raphael Le’ai, who starred in the OFC Youth Futsal Tournament last year in New Zealand where he scored a staggering 35 goals, was determined to make his mark on home soil at the OFC U-16 Championship in Honiara. He delivered on that promise by controlling the game with his fast feet and pace, and scored two goals in a standout display.

Le’ai, in partnership with Charles Mani up front, caused the New Zealand defence all sorts of problems as the visitors turned over possession too easily in the middle of the park and the Solomon Islands made them pay with their pace in transition on the counterattack.

NZ U-17 Head Coach Figueira paid credit to the Solomon Islands for the way they took the game to his side.

“I think it will be a game that we won’t forget,” said Figueira. “This is a tremendous learning experience for our boys against a really powerful, attacking team that is pretty relentless.”

Solomon Islands coach Stanley Waita said: “It is a massive win for us. My message to my boys was we had nothing to lose, so we play positive and attack at all times, I am proud of them as they did what I told them to.”

New Zealand dominated the opening exchanges but could not find the back of the net, and the locals, who defeated Papua New Guinea 5-0 in their opening game, grew into the game.

Solomon Islands got the hometown crowd on their feet when defender Javin Wae rose high and headed home from a corner delivery at the back post to take the lead in the 18^th minute.

The hosts kept pouring forward and four minutes later, only a superb save from New Zealand keeper Luca Taylor coming off his line to leap on the ball, denied the Solomon Islands another goal.

In the 26^th minute, New Zealand came back into the game and they brought the ball up the right in a promising move. The cross was well delivered the Solomon Islands keeper Davidson Malam timed his challenge on Bradley Wilson perfectly to shut down the goal scoring opportunity.

Eight minutes later, Wilson had another goal scoring chance when he cut inside his marker and shot at the near post. Malam was again on hand to deny the Kiwis with an outstretched foot.

While New Zealand did not convert their chances, at the other end the Solomon Islands were clinical. In the 41^st minute, Le’ai ensured the hosts would go into the sheds on a high when he converted his fifth goal of the tournament. The 16-year-old delivered a stunning finish from a tight angle to beat Taylor in goal.

Figueira made two changes at half-time with Matt Garbett coming on for Ryan Verney and Wilson making way for Joseph Lee.

But two minutes after the break New Zealand were under pressure once again. They were forced to make two outstanding saves first to deny Le’ai his second goal before New Zealand keeper Taylor blocked a close range effort at his near post.

The hosts knew they were heading for a special win when Captain Leon Kofana made it 3-0 when he was on hand to convert from a free kick in the 60^th minute.

Figueira made his their third and final change of the afternoon with Sean Bright replaced by Marko Stamenic, and he injected himself into the play immediately. 

In the final 30 minutes, the Solomon Islands continued to control the game and New Zealand could not combine to create a clear goal scoring opportunity.

Solomon Islands continued the party at Lawson Tama when they scored twice in the final 10 minutes to put an exclamation mark on a special performance.

In the 85^th minute, Philip Ropa did the hard work by beating Max Drake and laid a cross at the back post for Le’ai to finish for his second.

A minute later Le’ai found space again and fired over Taylor in goal but it bounced off the cross bar and Maxwell Keana was on hand for an easy finish.

New Zealand will have to win their final pool game of Group A on Saturday against Papua New Guinea. If they win that, they will finish second in their group and will meet the top seed from Group B in the semi-finals for a place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The finalists from the OFC U-16 Championship qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru.

OFC U-16 Championship
Group A
Solomon Islands 5 (Javin Wae 18’, Raphael Le’ai 41’, 85’, Leon Kofana 60’, Maxwell Keana 86’) New Zealand 0
HT: 2-0

New Zealand: 12. Luca Taylor (GK), 2. Max Drake, 4. Adam Hillis, 5. Ryan Verney (11. Matt Garbett 46’), 6. Campbell Strong (c), 8. Jackson Manuel, 9. Henry Hamilton, 14. Oskar Van Hattum, 15. Bradley Wilson (10. Joseph Lee 46’), 16. Sean Bright (Marko Stamenic 60’), 17. Nathan Lobo
Coach: Jose Figueira

Substitutes not used: 1. Alex Paulsen (GK), 3. Kris Naicker, 13. Finn O'Connor, 18. Ben Old, 19. Hayden Aish, Harry Bark

Article added: Wednesday 12 September 2018