21 Sep 2022

Can anyone stop free-scoring Junior All Whites?

11:26 am on 21 September 2022
New Caledonia celebrate scoring the only goal of their OFC U-19 Championship 2022 quarter-final v Solomon Islands.

New Caledonia celebrate scoring the only goal of their OFC U-19 Championship 2022 quarter-final v Solomon Islands. Photo: OFC Media via Phototek.

As the final four teams involved in the Oceania Under-19 football championships gear up for the semi-finals, the question is whether any side can stop New Zealand.

The Junior All Whites have looked unstoppable so far, scoring 28 goals without conceding any in their four matches.

In their quarter-final they saw off Papua New Guinea five-nil.

Kian Donkers has scored eight goals so far, and team-mate Oliver Colloty has found the net seven times.

The team with the unenviable task of trying to stop them is hosts Tahiti.

Tahiti won its quarter-final against Vanuatu by one goal.

In the other semi-final, Fiji takes on New Caledonia.

New Caledonia reached this stage by beating Solomon Islands 1-0 through an early goal by Willy Read, while Fiji overcame Samoa 4-1.

Both semi-finals take place on Wednesday local time in the Stade Pater in Papeete.

New Zealand have won five of the last seven championships; Fiji and Tahiti have both one title since 2007.