New Caledonia have managed to hold defending champions New Zealand to a nil-all draw, while Fiji proved too strong for the Cook Islands, winning 5-0 in round two of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Under-16 Men's Championship in Honiara.

Papua New Guinea also turned things around after a draw in their opening match against the Cook Islands to dominate Tahiti 6-1.

In the other game played on Thursday, hosts Solomon Islands kept their hopes alive of making the semi-finals by defeating Sāmoa 4-0.

The tournament winner will qualify for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar.

Fiji vs Cook Islands

Fiji have secured a place in the semi-finals after their convincing win over the Cook Islands at Lawson Tama Stadium.

They started strong, scoring just four minutes into the match when Saula Muatini took advantage of a mistake by the Cook Islands' goalkeeper.

The Fijians celebrate their win over the Cook Islands as they secure a spot in the semi-finals. Photo/OFC Media

From that moment on, Fiji took control and scored again before half-time, ending the first 45 minutes with a commanding 4-0 lead.

In the second half, Fiji continued to press and scored another goal. The Cook Islands put up a brave fight and came close to scoring, but were unable to get past the solid Fijian defence.

With this win, Fiji sits at the top of Group A, needing only a draw against Papua New Guinea in their final match to secure first place.

New Zealand’s Matais Nunez, left, takes on New Caledonia’s Maurice Palaou. Photo/DJ Mills/Phototek

New Zealand vs New Caledonia

In another match, New Zealand and New Caledonia ended in a goal-less draw.

Despite failing to score, the game was filled with action and drama. New Zealand had more chances and controlled the game well, but New Caledonia's quick counter-attacks kept the pressure on.

Both teams created opportunities but couldn't find the back of the net, leaving them both in a good position to reach the semi-finals.

A Solomon Islands fan cheers on the home side in Honiara. Photo/OFC Media

Solomon Islands vs Sāmoa

The Solomon Islands are now in a tough spot, needing to win against New Zealand in their next match to keep their dreams of reaching the semi-finals alive.

The match against Sāmoa was challenging for the hosts, who missed several chances to score.

Sāmoa looked strong at times and almost took the lead, but in the end, the Solomon Islands managed to win 4-0, giving them a glimmer of hope in the competition.

The round matches set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament, as teams vie for a chance to participate in the World Cup in Qatar.

The final round of matches will be played this weekend when Tahiti take on the Cook Islands on Saturday and PNG face Fiji. On Sunday, Sāmoa and New Caledonia go head-to-head, while the Solomon Islands play New Zealand.

The tournament ends on 30 August.