23 Jan 2015

Under 17s head to OFC semi-finals

2:32 pm on 23 January 2015

Four goals from Jamie Woodlock headlined the New Zealand effort as they completed the group phase of the Oceania Under-17 Championships with a 6-0 win over the Cook Islands in Samoa.

Samoa and American Samoa is hosting the Oceania Men's Under 17 Football Championship.

Samoa and American Samoa is hosting the Oceania Men's Under 17 Football Championship. Photo: Oceania Football

A 10th-minute goal for captain Oliver Ceci got the New Zealand side going in Apia with a Woodlock double either side of half-time extending the lead to 3-0.

Woodlock then completed his hat-trick in the 66th minute, firing home another cross from Sione Fa'apoi before his fourth, and New Zealand's fifth, came after a byline cutback from substitute Logan Rogerson.

Second-half substitute Sean Skeens completed the scoring in the 82nd minute, netting after Rogerson's initial shot was blocked by Cook Islands goalkeeper Chrismagne Elikana.

New Zealand finished top of Group of A of the competition and will contest the semi-finals on Sunday in American Samoa.

Their opponents in the last four will be Vanuatu, who lost 2-0 to Tahiti in their final pool match. The Tahitians go on to play New Caledonia, also on Saturday.

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