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New Caledonia and New Zealand will represent Oceania at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India after the pair won their respective semifinals at the OFC U-17 Championship in Tahiti on Tuesday, February 21.
It was a history-making occasion in French Polynesia for New Caledonia who are into their first FIFA tournament. New Zealand, meanwhile, will be featuring in their sixth successive FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Despite the respective historical records, the pair qualified for India 2017 in contrasting fashion.
New Caledonia qualified with a 3-2 win over Solomon Islands, though it was a match they led for long periods. The Solomons equalised on the hour mark to cancel out a first-half opener, but New Caledonia quickly scored twice in quick succession to put their stamp on the contest.
New Zealand had far more trouble in the latter match requiring a dramatic 93rd minute winner from Oliver Whyte to overcome an unlucky Papua New Guinea, after the two teams had exchanged first-half goals.
