Three Wellington Phoenix academy players have helped New Zealand to an emphatic victory at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship in Tahiti.
Left back Daniel Nelson, midfielder Joe McIntyre, and striker Jack Perniskie were all members of the squad who lifted the continental trophy in Tahiti.
New Zealand saw off Vanuatu, Fiji, Cook Islands and New Caledonia before overcoming Fiji again, winning a hotly contested final 3-1.
Nelson started the final, and was an ever-present for the side.
An early strike for New Zealand put them in front, before a freak goal from a Fiji free kick left the sides level at half-time.
Both sides were reduced to ten men when a melee in the second half resulted in a red card for each team.
Two goals in quick succession then put New Zealand back in front, securing the tournament triumph.
The opening match had seen Vanuatu dispatched 9-0, with Nelson starting and McIntyre coming on to play the second half.
Perniskie came into the lineup for the second game, playing a full 90 minutes as New Zealand overcame an early scare to roar back and hammer Fiji 7-1.
The final group game against a Cook Islands side resulted in another comfortable win, this time by a 7-0 scoreline.
Both McIntyre and Nelson started, the former picking up both an assist and the player of the match award.
Perniskie also made an appearance off the bench, rifling home the sixth goal.
The semi-final threw New Zealand up against New Caledonia, with the winner booking their place in next year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in Qatar.
Nelson again got the nod at left back, with McIntyre and Perniskie joining him as substitutes.
The team cruised to a 5-0 scoreline, cementing their spot in the final.
