The Young All Whites can pack their bags for Mexico after a battling 2-0 win over Tahiti in Auckland today earned them Oceania's spot in the under-17 World Cup soccer championship.
The was set up with first half goals to Cameron Howieson and Tim Payne and cemented with patient defence
in a second half devoid of clear cut chances for either side.
Howieson's seventh minute opener settled the nerves for New Zealand but will cause nightmares for the Tahitian goalkeeper who completely misread the deep free kick and could only watch as it sailed over him untouched.
The winger then set up Payne in the 36th minute with an inch-perfect through ball, although it still required a cool head and smart finish from the striker to beat the keeper.
New Zealand custodian Scott Basalaj, named the goalkeeper of the tournament, needed to be at his sharpest when blocking a low shot from Tauhiti Keck 10 minutes before the break, but was largely untroubled in the second half as a back four marshalled superbly by captain Luke Adams restricted the Tahitians to speculative long range efforts.
Tahiti tackles contained plenty of sting, especially in the second half, as they tried to unsettle New Zealand and force their way back into the game but the Young All Whites resisted any urges to retaliate, prompting praise from coach Steve Cain.
"We're very pleased because we played a very assured game in the second half," Cain said.
"Young boys can be impulsive at this age so to play with discipline like that for 45 minutes is not easy. They had the wind but we reduced them making silly decisions and knocking the ball long which is what we wanted."
"They tried to upset us. But we didn't get involved in the off-the-ball stuff and we showed lots of composure on the ball."
New Zealand join Japan, Australia, Uzbekistan, North Korea and hosts Mexico as qualified teams for the 24 nation finals in June and July.
It is New Zealand's third straight qualification for an under-17 World Cup, and their fifth overall.
In the playoff for third place, the Solomon Islands defeated Vanuatu 2-0.
- NZPA
