The Fiji Junior Bula Boys have suffered their first loss at the OFC Under-19 Men’s Championship in Samoa, falling 2-0 to defending champions New Zealand.

Fresh off an impressive 7-2 victory over Vanuatu, Fiji produced a determined defensive performance and kept the Junior All Whites at bay for much of the contest.

The match remained scoreless until the 54th minute when New Zealand finally broke through, before adding a second goal 11 minutes from full-time to secure the win.

Despite the result, Fiji showed plenty of attacking intent. Captain Delon Shankar came close with a free-kick that sailed just over the crossbar, while Abdullah Khairati narrowly missed the target during a promising second-half opportunity.

The victory confirms New Zealand’s place in the semi-finals, while Fiji will now shift its attention to the final group-stage match as the Junior Bula Boys continue their push for a spot in the tournament’s last four.

With qualification still within reach, Fiji will be looking to bounce back and finish the group stage on a strong note.