ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
Fiji are expected to be out in force today as they take on New Zealand in their third match of the Under 17 World Cup qualifier in Auckland tomorrow, January 12.
Yesterday Fiji were edged out 2-1 by a fighting Papua New Guinea side, signaling something of a backlash against NZ at North Harbour Stadium.
Seen as the team most likely to challenge the Young All Whites for group A honours, the Fijians were stung by PNG in the early round two game yesterday after leading 1-0 for a good part of the match.
PNG had fought back to 1-1 in the 35th minute with a goal from captain Alwin Komolong following Altaaf Sahib’s spectacular long-range drive to give Fiji their 22nd minute lead.
Jacob Sabua grabbed the winner seven minutes into the second half with another stunning long-range effort before he was stretchered off in the 72nd minute.
In the other late match, New Zealand bundled out Vanuatu 5-1 after leading 4-0 at halftime.
Four of the five teams in the group are locked on three points with New Zealand having a game in hand. If PNG beat American Samoa in tomorrow's late game, they could become New Zealand's biggest threat.
Group A
12/01/11 13:30 Fiji Vs New Zealand
12/01/11 16:00 Papua New Guinea Vs American Samoa
14/01/11 13:30 New Zealand Vs American Samoa
14/01/11 16:00 Fiji Vs Vanuatu
16/01/11 15:00 American Samoa Vs Vanuatu
16/01/11 15:00 New Zealand Vs Papua New Guinea
Group B
13/01/11 13:30 Tahiti Vs Cook Islands
13/01/11 16:00 Solomon Islands Vs Tonga
15/01/11 13:30 Cook Islands Vs Tonga
15/01/11 16:00 Tahiti Vs New Caledonia
17/01/11 15:00 Tonga Vs New Caledonia
17/01/11 15:00 Cook Islands Vs Solomon Islands
3/4 Playoff
19/01/11 13:30 North Harbour Stadium
Final
19/01/11 16:00 North Harbour Stadium
Fiji are expected to be out in force today as they take on New Zealand in their third match of the Under 17 World Cup qualifier in Auckland tomorrow, January 12. Yesterday Fiji were edged out 2-1 by a fighting Papua New Guinea side, signaling something of a backlash against NZ at North Harbour...
Fiji are expected to be out in force today as they take on New Zealand in their third match of the Under 17 World Cup qualifier in Auckland tomorrow, January 12.
Yesterday Fiji were edged out 2-1 by a fighting Papua New Guinea side, signaling something of a backlash against NZ at North Harbour Stadium.
Seen as the team most likely to challenge the Young All Whites for group A honours, the Fijians were stung by PNG in the early round two game yesterday after leading 1-0 for a good part of the match.
PNG had fought back to 1-1 in the 35th minute with a goal from captain Alwin Komolong following Altaaf Sahib’s spectacular long-range drive to give Fiji their 22nd minute lead.
Jacob Sabua grabbed the winner seven minutes into the second half with another stunning long-range effort before he was stretchered off in the 72nd minute.
In the other late match, New Zealand bundled out Vanuatu 5-1 after leading 4-0 at halftime.
Four of the five teams in the group are locked on three points with New Zealand having a game in hand. If PNG beat American Samoa in tomorrow's late game, they could become New Zealand's biggest threat.
Group A
12/01/11 13:30 Fiji Vs New Zealand
12/01/11 16:00 Papua New Guinea Vs American Samoa
14/01/11 13:30 New Zealand Vs American Samoa
14/01/11 16:00 Fiji Vs Vanuatu
16/01/11 15:00 American Samoa Vs Vanuatu
16/01/11 15:00 New Zealand Vs Papua New Guinea
Group B
13/01/11 13:30 Tahiti Vs Cook Islands
13/01/11 16:00 Solomon Islands Vs Tonga
15/01/11 13:30 Cook Islands Vs Tonga
15/01/11 16:00 Tahiti Vs New Caledonia
17/01/11 15:00 Tonga Vs New Caledonia
17/01/11 15:00 Cook Islands Vs Solomon Islands
3/4 Playoff
19/01/11 13:30 North Harbour Stadium
Final
19/01/11 16:00 North Harbour Stadium
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