The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) advises that the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa TM, OFC Preliminary Competition – Stage 2 match between New Zealand and Fiji has been rescheduled to take place in Fiji on November 19, 2008.

The fixture was originally scheduled to be played in Auckland on October 13, 2007 at North Harbour Stadium however FIFA postponed the match after Fijian goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau was denied an entry visa into New Zealand.

Fiji FA and NZ Football requested that FIFA reschedule the match to Samoa on June 23rd, 2008 but after closer examination of the request and considering the difficulties encountered by the Samoa Football Soccer Federation to host the match in June FIFA agreed to relocate the fixture to Fiji in November at the request of all participants.

New Zealand won 2-0 when the two sides met in the first match of the OFC Nations Cup at Churchill Park in November 2007. Ivan Vicelich and Shane Smeltz scored the goals in front of a crowd of 6,000.

While Vanuatu and Fiji are now definitely out of the running, New Caledonia have moved to within a point of group leaders New Zealand, who have a game in hand over the islanders. The home-and-away contest between these top two countries in September will decide the fate of the Oceania group.

 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa TM, OFC Nations Cup – Stage 2 Standings:

AUCKLAND – Uncapped Waitakere United playmaker Allan Pearce has crowned a stellar domestic season with inclusion in an extended 24-man Thai Airways All Whites squad for the crucial 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying showdown against New Caledonia in September.

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert has named a full strength squad for the home and away fixtures with ten Europe or US based professionals adding an international flavour to a Wellington Phoenix-dominated squad.

Pearce – an unused squad member for the Thai Airways All Whites match against Iran in 2003 – is one of only two players making their first appearance in an All Whites squad since 2010 World Cup qualifying began, with 54 cap former-Fulham midfielder Simon Elliott fit again and in contention for his first All Whites appearance since 2004.

Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen and Belgium-based utility Kris Bouckenhooge were both named in Herbert’s first extended squad last August but subsequently ruled out first through injury and then, in Nelsen’s case, the birth of his first child.

Wellington Phoenix stopper Glen Moss and Oly-White defender Steven Old are also back in the frame after being overlooked when the extended squad was trimmed for the opening match against Fiji.

The Thai Airways All Whites lead Oceania World Cup qualifying with nine points, one ahead of New Caledonia who they meet in Noumea on September 6 and at North Harbour Stadium four days later.

Even with a deferred game against Fiji in hand, one win for the Thai Airways All Whites against New Caledonia will be enough to clinch a spot in the 2009 Confederations Cup and a two-legged playoff with the fifth best team from Asia in late 2009 for a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but Herbert is taking nothing for granted.

“I don’t think it’s ever simple, hence why we’ve named a strong squad and plan to take full advantage of the FIFA window,” Herbert said.

“When you looked at the schedule at the start of the season, New Caledonia away was always the toughest game, and we still need at least one win from those matches.”

Pearce was Waitakere’s top scorer in both the NZFC (11 goals) and the O-League (4) as the West Auckland club claimed both trophies in 2007-08.

The Waitakere winger-cum-striker showed a knack of scoring in big matches, twice scoring the only goal in 1-0 wins over fierce rivals Auckland City and slotting the equalising penalty in a 1-1 draw with City to seal a place in the O-League final. He then scored twice in the return leg of that final after also scoring against Team Wellington in the NZFC grand final.

Herbert recognised Pearce’s performance in crunch games this season but said the former age-group international’s senior call-up was the result of a string of consistent performances.

“We have to be mindful of players who are performing week in and week out,” Herbert said.

“I’ve seen Allan in a number of games, as has [All Whites assistant coach] Brian Turner, and Allan’s been integral to a lot of Waitakere’s success this season. His selection is recognition of that.

“He’s responded to big games at NZFC level but just as importantly, he’s a player who can beat people, he’s a superb athlete and good off either foot. He can play both flanks so he gives us options there, and he’s scored goals.”

Thai Airways All Whites extended squad to face New Caledonia (club – caps/goals)
Goalkeepers:
Glen MOSS (Wellington Phoenix – 7/0)
Mark PASTON (Wellington Phoenix – 17/0)
Jacob SPOONLEY (Miramar Rangers – 0/0)

Defenders:
Andrew BOYENS (New York Red Bulls – 5/0)
Tony LOCHHEAD (Wellington Phoenix – 16/0)
David MULLIGAN (Unattached – 17/3)
Ryan NELSEN (Blackburn Rovers – 34/7)
Steven OLD (Macarthur Rams – 17/0)
James PRITCHETT (Auckland City – 8/0)
Ben SIGMUND (Wellington Phoenix – 5/0)

Midfielders:
Leo BERTOS (Wellington Phoenix – 21/0)
Kris BOUCKENHOOGE (Red Star Waasland – 38/3)
Tim BROWN (Wellington Phoenix – 14/0)
Jeff CAMPBELL (East Coast Bays AFC – 19/3)
Jeremy CHRISTIE (Wellington Phoenix – 12/0)
Simon ELLIOTT (Unattached – 54/8)
Chris JAMES (Tampere United – 8/1)
Duncan OUGHTON (Columbus Crew – 21/2)
Allan PEARCE (Waitakere United – 0/0)
Ivan VICELICH (RKC Waalwijk – 63/7)

Forwards:
Daniel ELLENSOHN (Western Suburbs – 1/0)
Chris KILLEN (Celtic FC – 27/15)
Shane SMELTZ (Wellington Phoenix – 19/7)
Jarrod SMITH (Toronto FC – 11/0)

Management:
Ricki Herbert – Head Coach; Brian Turner – Assistant Coach; Clint Gosling –Goalkeeper Coach; Roland Jeffery – Team Physiotherapist; Wade Irvine –Massage Therapist; Phil Warbrick – Team Manager; Celeste Geertsema – Team Doctor.

2010 FIFA World Cup – Oceania Qualifying

Remaining fixtures:

September 6 – New Caledonia v New Zealand (Stade Numa-Daly Magenta, Noumea)
September 6 – Fiji v Vanuatu
September 10 – New Zealand v New Caledonia (North Harbour Stadium)
September 10 – Vanuatu v Fiji
November 19 – New Zealand v Fiji (neutral venue)

New Zealand’s 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying results to date

Oct 13 (Albany) New Zealand p:p Fiji
Oct 17 (Lautoka) Fiji 0:2 New Zealand Ivan Vicelich 33, Shane Smelltz 87
Nov 17 (Port Vila) Vanuatu 1:2 New Zealand Smeltz 53, David Mulligan 90+4
Nov 21 (Wellington) New Zealand 4:1 Vanuatu Mulligan 14, 82 Smeltz 27(pen), 34

Story courtesy of NZFootball. For more information visit www.nzsoccer.com

NOUMEA - New Caledonia beat Vanuatu 3-0 at Stade Numa Daly over the weekend as both nations sought to bolster their respective 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™/OFC Nations Cup 2008 campaigns.

The win preserves New Caledonia's unbeaten record and means they must win their  two remaining matches against New Zealand to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

New Zealand has three wins from three matches and one more victory will be enough to propel Ricki Herbert's charges into a two-legged play-off with the fifth placed team in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and FIFA Confederations Cup - South Africa 2009 as winners of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Nations Cup 2008.

Vanuatu remain winless after four matches with only the solitary point gained from their earlier draw with New Caledonia.

www.oceaniafootball.com is pleased to bring you the best of the action courtesy of photographer Alain Vartane - email: vte92@hotmail.com

 New Caledonian goal scorer Michel Hmae chases down a ball

The New Caledonian starting eleven prior to kick off

New Caledonia's Wilson Forrest fights off a Vanuatu challenge near his teams bench.

Francois Sakama from Vanuatu puts a ball into the box

New Caledonia goal scorer Pierre Wajoka takes on a Vanuatu defender.

The New Caledonia wall tenses as they try to protect their lead

Pierre Wajoka scored the opening goal for New Caledonia

Michel Hmae makes it two for New Caledonia after sixty minutes

Jean Patrick Wakanumune from New Caledonia gets tangled up with his own team mate

It's all over at Stade Numa Daly - New Caledonia 3 - Vanuatu 0

New Caledonia kept their hopes of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ alive with a 3-0 win over Vanuatu in Noumea on Saturday.

The home side's task was made easier by the dismissal of Vanuatan defender Ken Masauvakalo in only the 12th minute of the game.

The Caledonians' midfield maestro Pierre Wajoka was the first to score after 36 minutes, and Michel Hmae added a second goal on the hour mark. Patrick Diaike completed the misery for Vanuatu in the 87th minute.

While Vanuatu are now definitely out of the running, New Caledonia have moved to within a point of group leaders New Zealand, who have a game in hand over the islanders. The home-and-away contest between these top two countries in September will decide the fate of the Oceania group.

 OFC Nations cup table

The winner of Stage 2 qualifies for a two legged playoff with the fifth placed team in Asia Football Confederation (AFC)

NOUMEA - Live television coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifier Oceanian Zone will be broadcast in New Caledonia courtesy of state television station RFO and available throughout the French Overseas Territory.

Radio Vanuatu will provide live coverage for Vanuatu listeners courtesy of football commentator Simo Jackson. For full details of how to tune into this broadcast frequency please visit:

http://www.fm107vanuatu.com/

Updates on the progress of the match can be followed at www.fifa.com

The two teams have met each other on three previous occasions with one win, one draw and one loss recorded for each side.

New Caledonia defeated Vanuatu 5-3 in a friendly international in Noumea in July last year but Vanuatu followed that up with a 2-0 victory just two days later in another friendly.

Last weekend New Caledonia opened the scoring through Ramon Djamalji after 75 minutes but Etienne Mermer squared away an equaliser for Vanuatu on 77 minutes to level the match at 1-1.

New Zealand leads the way in the group with three wins from three matches.

New Caledonia has a win and two draws and must win on Saturday to stay in contention for top spot in the group.

Vanuatu must win to cling onto its fading hopes of qualification but that scenario lo