The Solomon Islands have secured the third and final Oceania ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2027™, after they downed Papua new Guinea in the third place play-off at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship.
In front of a lively crowd at the PNG Football Stadium, the hosts spurned numerous chances to take a first half lead, with Eddie Aefi twice denying Boas Tommy from close range.
Midway through the second half, it was Papua New Guinea that broke the deadlock courtesy of a wonderful volley from the top of the box off the right boot of captain Matthew Sopo.
With six minutes of regulation time remaining, it was a mistake from their goalkeeper Luther Rodney that allowed the Solomons to square things up, as he spilled a cross from substitute Johnson Haiharu straight to the path of Andriano Kabolo who nodded home from close range.
That saw the contest head straight to penalties where Aefi made a fine save from PNG’s second effort, with the Katukatus converting four in a row to win it 4-1.
Henry Fa’arodo’s side are now set to head back to the global finals for the first time since Brazil 2019, where they will join New Zealand and Fiji.
“Words can’t explain it, I’m so grateful for the boys in terms of their efforts and performance. I believe they deserve to be where they are now. I took this team two years ago, 80% of them as U-15s and they’ve grown so much.” Henry Fa’arodo, Solomon Islands’ head coach
Images courtesy of OFC Media via Phototek
Sources: FIFA Official
