OFC U-20 Championship 1990

The eighth edition of the OFC U-20 Championship took place in 1990 and doubled as qualification for the intercontinental play-off for the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship™ in Portugal. The tournament was hosted by Fiji and contested between five teams in a round-robin format.

It was Australia that secured a fifth consecutive and sixth overall OFC U-20 Championship title with four wins from four, including a 6-0 drubbing of Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand.

For the second time in their history, Australia progressed to the knockout stages of the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship in Portugal, after topping Group C that included the USSR, Egypt, and Trinidad and Tobago. They went on to play Syria in the quarterfinals whom they beat 5-4 on penalties after they couldn’t be separated following 90 minutes and extra time.

A victory that propelled them into the semi-finals for the first time. Australia suffered a 1-0 defeat to Portugal, a Rui Costa goal in the 31st minute is all the separated the two sides. In the third place playoff Australia faced USSR again, however, this time they come out on the losing side, beaten 5-4 on penalties. Australia’s fourth place finish remains the equal-best by any OFC member at a FIFA World Youth Championship or U-20 World Cup.