OFC U-20 Championship 2002

Brazil’s Daniel vies with Australia’s Carl Valeri & Michael Thwaite at the Fifa World Youth Championship in Dubai (Photo credit: MOHAMMED MAHJOUB/AFP via Getty Images)

The fourteenth edition of the OFC U-20 Championship took place in 2002 and doubled as qualification for the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates. The tournament was held between both Fiji and Vanuatu, before the final was played over two legs in a home-and-away format between the competing finalists.

Australia advanced from Group B after wins against Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. In Group B five teams contested for one spot with Fiji coming out on top after upsetting New Zealand 1-0.

In a replay of the 1998 final, Australia and Fiji went head-to-head, the first tie in Melbourne saw the hosts produce a resounding 11-0 victory against the Fijians all but sealing the title before even playing the second leg. Australia finished the job with a 4-0 win in Suva, to win the tie 15-0 on aggregate and secure a fifth consecutive title and 11th overall.

At the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championships in the UAE, Australia punched above their weight, beating powerhouses Brazil 3-2, Canada 2-1 and securing a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic to top Group C and reach the Round of 16 for a sixth time. However, their run came to an end in the knockout stages, losing 1-0 to hosts the United Arab Emirates, who scored in the 89th minute of the match.