OFC U-20 Championship 1998

The 12th edition of the OFC U-20 Championship was held in 1998 and doubled as qualification for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship™ in Nigeria. The tournament was hosted in Apia, Samoa, and was contested between eight nations.

A tight 2-0 win in their opening game against Fiji helped Australia top Group A with the former finishing runners up, in Group B a goalless draw between the Solomon Islands and New Zealand in the final group match meant the Solomon’s topped the group due to superior goal difference avoiding a clash with Australia in the semi-finals.

It took more than 90 minutes for Australia and New Zealand to be separated with the former prevailing 3-2 in extra time to reach the finals against Fiji, who edged the Solomon Islands 2-1. Two goals from Simon Colosimo in the final secured Australia a 2-0 win over Fiji and a third consecutive and ninth OFC U-20 Championship overall.

Australia got off to a great start at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship beating Saudi Arabia 3-1, before facing to Mexico 3-1 and the Republic of Ireland 4-0 to miss out on the Round of 16 for the first time since 1987.