OFC U-20 Championship 2001

The thirteenth edition of the OFC U-20 Championship took place in 2001 and doubled as qualification for the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championships in Argentina. The tournament was hosted between New Caledonia and the Cook Islands, before the final was played over two legs in a home-and-away format between the two finalists.

Group A was tightly contested, New Zealand biggest win came in their opening game a 3-1 scoreline against Tahiti, while their other matches against Fiji, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia only had one goal separating them. As for Australia, they breezed through their group to secure their spot in the final.

Two goals in the last 15 minutes of regular time saw New Zealand fight back from a goal down to take the early advantage after the first leg at home in Auckland. Australia turned it around in a dramatic second leg at Coffs Harbour, winning 3-1 after extra-time on the day, and 4-3 on aggregate to claim their fourth consecutive and 10th OFC U-20 Championship overall.

At the FIFA World Youth Championships Australia beat Japan 2-0 in their opening match, before falling to the Czech Republic 3-0 in the second. It all came down to their final match, with Australia scoring late to secure a 1-1 draw against Angola and reach the knockout stages of the tournament as one of the best third placed sides. Up against heavyweights Brazil in the Round of 16, Australia were blown away by a stacked team, going down 4-0 falling short of reaching the quarterfinals again.