New Caledonia hit PNG for seven as Solomon Islands complete perfect OFC U-19 group stage

Solomon Islands confirmed themselves as one of the leading contenders at the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship by completing a perfect Group A campaign, while New Caledonia produced the performance of the final matchday with a remarkable 7-0 demolition of Papua New Guinea to secure the second semi-final berth.

The final round in Apia began with the biggest question surrounding second place. Solomon Islands had already secured progression, but Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia were separated by goal difference and met directly with their tournament hopes on the line.

By half-time, New Caledonia had emphatically answered that question.

Captain Sipané Qaeze opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a long-range effort that took a deflection before finding the bottom corner.

PNG remained within reach for much of the half, but the match changed completely during a devastating New Caledonian spell immediately before the interval.

Grégory Diko converted from the penalty spot in the 40th minute before Jemmanuel Siwoine made it 3-0 three minutes later. Kynaï Toto then struck on the stroke of half-time, leaving New Caledonia four goals ahead and effectively putting the qualification battle beyond PNG.

There was no easing off after the break.

Siwoine grabbed his second goal in the 80th minute before substitutes Bento Lages and Alexis Ijelipa added two more in the closing stages, completing an extraordinary 7-0 victory.

The result represented an emphatic response from a New Caledonian side that had suffered a 3-1 defeat to Solomon Islands in its previous match. It also continued an impressive recent record against PNG: New Caledonia have now beaten them in four consecutive OFC U-19 Championship meetings.

For Siwoine, the brace took him to three goals for the tournament, making him New Caledonia’s leading scorer after the group stage.

Patty strikes again as Solomon Islands finish perfect

If New Caledonia supplied the drama, Solomon Islands provided another demonstration of consistency.

The Junior Kurukurus defeated hosts Samoa 2-0, completing Group A with three victories from three and conceding only once.

Once again, Jayroll Patty was the central figure.

Fresh from scoring a hat-trick in the 3-1 victory over New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands captain opened the scoring after 20 minutes. Wilkenson Siosi created the opportunity and Patty finished left-footed into the bottom corner.

Samoa did have opportunities to make the contest uncomfortable for the group leaders. Javier Arratia-Pio came particularly close when he got behind the Solomon Islands defence and struck the post, but the hosts could not find an equaliser.

The game remained 1-0 until the final minute, when Patty broke into the penalty area, rounded the goalkeeper and finished to make it 2-0.

It completed another decisive individual performance from the captain and took his tally to five goals in his last two matches, putting him at the top of the Group A scoring chart.

Solomon Islands therefore finish the group stage with a flawless record: three wins, six goals scored and only one conceded. They defeated Papua New Guinea 1-0, New Caledonia 3-1 and Samoa 2-0 to collect the maximum nine points. It is the third time in the last six editions that Solomon Islands have topped their group at the tournament.

Group A decided

The final standings leave Solomon Islands first with nine points, followed by New Caledonia on six and Papua New Guinea on three. Samoa finish without a point after three defeats.

The contrast between New Caledonia and PNG on the final day was particularly striking. PNG had revived their campaign by defeating Samoa 4-2 in the previous round and entered the decisive match still capable of reaching the semi-finals. Instead, New Caledonia turned what appeared likely to be a tense qualification battle into the most one-sided result of Group A.

New Caledonia also finish as the group’s highest-scoring team with 12 goals, although their defeat to Solomon Islands means they advance in second place.

The consequences are now clear.

Solomon Islands will face the Group B runners-up in Friday’s first semi-final, while New Caledonia will meet the Group B winners in the other. New Zealand have already qualified from Group B, while Fiji, Tahiti and Vanuatu enter the final round with the remaining positions still to be settled.

Papua New Guinea move into the fifth-place play-off, while Samoa will contest seventh place.

Much more than a place in the continental final will be at stake when Solomon Islands and New Caledonia return for the semi-finals. Both finalists at the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship qualify for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Solomon Islands are now only one victory away from returning to the global stage for the first time since their historic FIFA U-20 World Cup appearance in 2025, while New Caledonia remain alive in their pursuit of a second consecutive qualification.