New Zealand has started its Oceania Football Confederation Under-17 Championship on a high beating New Caledonia 3-2 in a thriller at the Fiji Football Academy ground in Ba today.
A scoring affair, both teams played to the wire in front of cheering fans, with the Kiwis edging their counterparts at the end.
But it was New Zealand forward Luke Supyk who was the darling of the side racking a hat-trick.
New Caledonia managed two goals through defender Ronald Nyanyane and a penalty in the second half neatly scored by captain Joseph Hnaissalin.