AUCKLAND - The Football Ferns have struck goal scoring form in their penultimate pre-Olympic hit-out, winning 14-0 against Singapore in the city-state on Wednesday night.

Strikers Amber Hearn, Emma Kete and Renee Leota all scored their first international hat tricks with Hearn and Kete finding the back of the net four times.

Midfielders Kirsty Yallop (twice) and Merissa Smith also netted as New Zealand ran riot in each of the training match’s three periods, scoring four goals in the first half hour and five each in the next two 30 minute spells.

The lop-sided win is the Football Ferns’ largest in five years and eclipses a 9-0 victory over Thailand in 1991 as their biggest win against non-Oceania opposition.

The Football Ferns opened the scoring through a back post Yallop header in the second minute and never looked back with long range efforts from Hearn and Kete the pick of the night’s plentiful offerings.

New Zealand coach John Herdman praised the nature of the Ferns performance but quickly turned his attention to the New Zealand’s next game against Canada – the side’s final warm-up match before meeting Japan in their Olympic opener on August 6.

“Tonight was important. We always go into fixtures as the underdogs but we knew tonight we were the better team, and we played with confidence professionalism and ruthlessness,” Herdman said.

“The key now is they take this into the Canada game on Friday.”

“It’s our last opportunity to scalp a top 10 team and send out a message before the Olympics.

“We’ve had the attitude in the games against Australia and China, but tonight they had the killer instinct and players were prepared to put their bodies on the line to score goals. There was just that extra bit of quality tonight.

“It was a step we needed to take. We’ve worked hard on our finishing in the last few days and internally the team asked some questions of our attacking players. Tonight they all stood up.”

New Zealand play Canada at Jurong West Stadium in Singapore on Friday at 11.30 (NZ time).

The Football Ferns are in Group G of the 12 team Women’s Olympic Football Tournament along with Japan, Norway and USA.

Football Ferns 14 (Amber Hearn (4), Emma Kete (4), Renee Leota (3), Kirsty Yallop (2), Merissa Smith) Singapore 0

Queenstown Stadium, Singapore
Wednesday 23 July

Football Ferns line-ups:
First third: Rachel Howard, Ria Percival, Rebecca Smith, Abby Erceg, Marlies Oostdam, Ali Riley, Katie Hoyle, Hayley Moorwood (Captain), Kirsty Yallop, Amber Hearn, Emma Kete.

Second third: Rachel Howard, Ria Percival, Rebecca Smith, Kristy Hill, Marlies Oostdam, Merissa Smith, Kirsty Yallop, Emily McColl, Anna Green, Amber Hearn, Renee Leota.

Final third: Jenny Bindon, Katie Hoyle, Abby Erceg, Kristy Hill, Anna Green, Merissa Smith, Emily McColl, Hayley Moorwood (Captain), Renee Leota, Emma Kete, Rebecca Tegg.

Head coach: John Herdman

Story courtesy of NZF Media. For full article visit www.nzsoccer.com

Pundits have tipped the Vodafone Ba soccer side to reign supreme at the Battle of the Giants, which starts at the National Stadium today.

This is despite the defending champions having already lost the Champion versus Champion and the Fiji FACT titles earlier this year.

Based on form the Men in Black are still favoured to top the lot when the dust settles at Laucala on Sunday.

Prominent soccer commentator Raymond Stoddart and national coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti, have rated Ba as the team to beat.

Stoddart, a former Suva rep, said with the inclusion of Roneel Kumar, Maciu Dunadamu and Pita Bolaitoga, Ba will start as favorites.

"Ba is in the same pool with Shop and Save Lautoka and Labasa, and one of them will have to bow out," Stoddart said.

"The Ba side has lost the FACT, but will be out to make amends.

"Lautoka look very strong on paper with the inclusion of Peni Finau and Osea Vakatalesau who will boost the side."

The Vodafone Labasa side with the services of strikers Roy Krishna and Joseph Namiriau has a formidable strike force. "I tip Ba and Lautoka to make the semi-finals from this pool," he said.

From Pool 2, Stoddart has picked Southern Forest Navua and Power Electric /Vodafone Suva to make the last four.

"Suva at home will be strong," he said.

"Looking at Nadi and Rewa which are in this pool, they will find it hard, if their performance from last week is anything to go by.

"Tavua will cause a lot of problems in this pool, but I stick my head out and tip Navua and Suva."

He has predicted a Ba-Lautoka final, with the Men in Black to win.

"I am tipping Ba purely on experience and the players they have," Stoddart said.

He said after every tournament a national team should be selected, as this would give the players an added incentive.

"We need to have the national team assembled after each tournament and play matches, as this will give the players a boost," he said.

Buzzetti said all teams will be out to nail the top prize, adding the standard at the tournament would go up a notch from the Fiji FACT. "There will be a big difference in fitness now as the season is half way," Buzzetti said.

"On paper Ba and Labasa look the top bets."

He said there were certain factors, which would affect teams.

"Things like how tired the players are and how fast they recover and the yellow cards they get," he said.

Fiji Football Association chief executive Bob Kumar said teams like Ba, Lautoka, Navua and Labasa were the stand outs, but it would be very hard to predict the winner.

Russia, Brazil and Spain completed the line-up for the quarter-finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Marseille 2008 on a day when United Arab Emirates, Mexico and Japan came up short. FIFA.com reflects on the conclusion to an appetizing group stage.

The quarter finalists are Russia, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Uruguay, Argentina.

The big match
Spain 6-1 Japan
Goals - Amarelle (3), Cristian Torres, Nico, Javi Alvarez for Spain; Tomoya Uehara for Japan.
Almost 15 minutes had gone. Spain were struggling to break down their opponents, and only the reactions of Roberto Valeiro had denied Japan the opener. But cometh the hour, cometh the man. That man, when Spain are concerned, is perennially Amarelle. The inventive No10 produced a stunning overhead-kick to break the deadlock, scored again from the penalty spot, and then added his side's fifth goal with another sublime bicycle-kick as they clinched their place in the last eight.

Other games
Benjamin's phenomenal shooting from distance made absolutely sure of Brazil's place in the quarter-finals, and condemned Mexico to elimination after their repeat of last year's final. The Seleção No10 struck the first from a free-kick taken close to his own goalkeeper, and added another long-range set-piece as the defending champions eased to a 7-1 success. Earlier, Argentina had become the first team to advance with maximum points, sending Cameroon home pointless in the process. However, it was the battle to join the Albiceleste that took precedence in Group C, and it was Russia who emerged with the runners-up ticket following a convincing 5-0 win over United Arab Emirates. Andrey Bukhlitskiy kept an unprecedented second successive FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup clean sheet to aid this result, and Egor Shaykov played his part with two goals.

The player
Facundo Minici (ARG)
Argentina are not just about goalkeeper Marcelo Salgueiro and the impressive Hilaire brothers. Minici's three-goal performance against Cameroon will have certainly underlined this to Spain.

The stat
70 - The number of matches Brazil have gone unbeaten following today's reverse of Mexico.

What they said
"We now have two days to rest and prepare for our next game, which will serve us well. We'll do our best to reach the semi-finals. It will not be easy but we believe we can do it. We'll have to be even more efficient than we were today against the UAE," Nikolai Pisarev, Russia coach.

All the results
United Arab Emirates 0- 5 Russia
Cameroon 0-3 Argentina
Spain 6-1 Japan
Brazil 7-1 Mexico

Story provided by FIFA media. For all your FIFA Beach Soccer news and information visit www.fifa.com

FIJI- After the completion of the first round of games at the FMF/Blue Gas Battle of the Giants tournament, Vodafone Labasa, Shop and Save Lautoka and Southern Forest Navua have set the pace.

Labasa beat Nasinu 3-0, with a brace from Samuela Kautoga and one strike from Waitakere United striker, Roy Krishna.

Veteran marksman, Salesh Sami and Isimeli Naresia got the goals for Lautoka in its 2-0 win over Nadroga. Pranil Chand and lanky Apisai Smith gave Navua a 2-0 win over Tavua while Rewa and Nadi played out a 1-1 draw in another match.

Olympian Alvin Prasad got the opener for Rewa, but it was former national rep Viliame Toma, who got the equalizer deep in the second half.

Labasa coach Anand Sami although happy with his teams outcome was disappointed at his side’s failure in converting many chances especially since play was largely confined within the Nasinu half.

“It was a bit of a lackluster performance from the boys. There could have many more goals,” Sami said.

Lautoka coach Dennis Singh said they will have to brush up their attacking game. Singh said their players wasted many scoring opportunities.

“If you don’t score then you don’t win matches, it’s as simple as that,” he quipped. Navua boss Anil Sharma was satisfied with the win and also praised Tavua.

"We always knew it was going to be tough. I'm satisfied with the win and I also salute Tavua for giving us a tough game because everybody expected Navua to win by a big margin. Tavua will be a strong team in the tournament.''

"On the day Tavua played really well. We created opportunities but Tavua made it tough for us. I think we can use this week to perfect our finishing,'' Sharma said.

Rewa coach Kamal Swamy said while his teams played a better match than Nadi, a lapse in concentration saw the side give away the lead.

“We came away with a point, which is far better than losing,” Swamy said.

Games proper will start on Thursday at the National Stadium.

Solomon Islands bowed out of Marseille 2008 in style by beating El Salvador 6-3 in the battle for third place in Group B. James Naka headlined the victory, scoring four goals to take his tournament tally to eight.

Naka opened the scoring in the early stages, and he doubled his side's lead 13 seconds after the first restart. Jose Ruiz and Elias Ramirez got on the score-sheet for the Salvadorans in the second period, but Naka added another two to send Solomon Islands out for the last 12 minutes holding a 4-2 lead.

Tomas Hernandez pulled the Central Americans to within one goal of their opponents, but a double from Omo put the game out of their reach.

The win capped off a memorable tournament for James Naka who was undoubtedly the standout player for the Bilikiki Boys.

 "We played much better in our final game and I'm really happy with the result. We've had a great experience and it was great to finish the tournament with a victory. We'll hope to do better next year," Naka said.

El Salvador Coach Rudis Mauricio Gonzalez Gallo also had praise for the Solomon Island star.

 "I was really pleased with the attitude of my players. The problem today was that we couldn't contain Naka. But it was great to be here. The organisation from FIFA was excellent and really like Marseille and its fans. I hope France win tonight and can go to the final," Gallo said.

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Marseille 2008

Solomon Islands 6 (NAKA (4'12", 12'13", 15'27", 22'45")OMO (27'51", 34'41) El Salvador 3 (12'54")Elias RAMIREZ (23'07")Tomas HERNANDEZ (27'22")

El Salvador: 12 Jose PORTILLO (GK); 4 Jose LOBOS (C); 9 Elias RAMIREZ ; 10 Tomas HERNANDEZ ; 11 Jose RUIZ

SUBS: 1 Luis RODAS (GK); 2 Wilber ALVARADO; 3 Jose MEMBRENO; 5 Saul BLANCO; 6 Jose CASTRO; 7 Walter TORRES; 8 Jose QUINTEROS

Coach: GONZALEZ GALLO Rudis Mauricio (SLV)

Solomon Islands: 12. (GK) Fred HALE; 2.TAKA; 8. (C) OMO; 10. James NAKA; 11.
Gibson HOSEA;

SUBS: 1. (GK) Henry PADAVERANA; 3. Franco NEE; 4. Eddie NGAITIN; 5. Hickly RENCE; 6. Nicholas MURI; 7. Michael TAEMAN; 9. Joe LUWI;

Coach: KOTO Henry (SOL)

Officials

Referee: GENG Zhiwei (CHN)
Second referee: JACOB Denis (BEL)
Third referee: PALHIES Sylvain (FRA)
Timekeeper: RODRIGUEZ Juan (ARG)

Solomon Island Results at FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Marseille 2008

17 July
14.45 Hrs (Local Time)
Italy   7   Solomon Islands  4

19 July
16.15 Hrs (Local Time)
Solomon Islands 4  Portugal   13

21 July 22
16.15 Hrs (Local Time)
El Salvador  3  Solomon Islands 6

Solomon Island Goal Scorers:

James Naka   8
Gideon Omikirio  2
Gibson Hosea   2
Franco Nee   1
Nicholas Muri   1

Photos provided by FIFA media. For more visit www.fifa.com

It takes a lot to wipe the smile from the face of Solomon Islands goal-getter James Naka, and even in the wake of the Bilikiki Boys' 13-4 defeat by Portugal on Matchday 3 of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2008, the striker was accentuating the positive. The Kossa FC player underlined his international scoring credentials by notching his 13th goal in seven appearances in the tournament.

"I'm delighted to be taking part in my third World Cup," he told FIFA.com in an exclusive post-match interview. "It was a really tough couple of opening games against some of the top sides. We did our very best to stand up to them but I don't think we had any luck at all. Scoring a goal doesn't really mean anything when your team ends up losing."

Nevertheless, the Oceania representatives could at least console themselves with having edged the second period 3-2 against Italy. And as far as their No 10 is concerned, he and his team-mates could have given the Italians plenty more to ponder had they had more time to get used to the conditions in Marseille. "I think we arrived here a little late. The sand here is a little different to our beaches and it's far more tiring to play on this pitch than the ones we train on," he said.

Naka was called up to the Solomon Islands' national team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifiers last year, just before jetting off to Rio de Janeiro for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2007. It was an experience he took in his stride. "To be honest, I find the Beach Soccer World Cup tougher than the qualification matches. The standard is a lot higher here," he explained.

Henry Koto's side will have one last chance to bring home some points from the tournament when they face El Salvador on Tuesday morning (local time). With both sides locked at the bottom of the group a win would help to put a shine on the tournament for the Bilikiki Boys.

Personally for Naka it will provide another stage to showcase his skills. Naka has scored 4 goals so far at this World Cup and 13 goals from seven world cup matches over 3 years.

Record at FIFA Tournaments:

AUCKLAND – For the second time in five days, the Football Ferns have lost a match they dominated against Olympic hosts China, going down 0-1 in Qinhuangdao in the early hours of Monday morning (NZ time).

In a frenetic first five minutes, China repelled two early efforts from a New Zealand attacking corner before Han Duan opened the scoring at the other end, drifting unchecked at the near post and clipping the ball low past goalkeeper Jenny Bindon.

New Zealand coach John Herdman was left with a sense of déjà vu after close losses to Australia (0-1) and China (1-3) in the past week.

“The players are gutted. The last three games they’ve taken nothing from them when they should’ve taken something,” Herdman said.

“After the goal we battered them. We’ve out crossed them, out shot them, out pressed them but just couldn’t turn it into goals.”

Kirsty Yallop went close to equalising for the Ferns within minutes of Han’s goal, but her back post header was turned round the post by China’s ‘keeper in the 10th minute.

New Zealand created a host of half-chances – and a few full-blooded ones – in the second half, with the pace and delivery from Ali Riley a constant danger on the right of midfield but, in an increasingly familiar script, the Football Ferns could not turn dominance in possession and territory into victory.

Herdman could see the positives in another competitive showing at Qinhuangdao stadium just two and a half weeks out from their Olympic opener against Japan at the same venue.

“It’s another consistent performance in front of twenty odd thousand people and the beauty is that on August 6 these players are going to be ready for Japan, a team who China beat 3-1 a few weeks ago.

“It’s not the Olympics yet, and the signs are very good. China will be relieved to come away with what they got today.”

“We’re a different team now. The players know they can live on the world stage but our work in the attacking third is not world class and until it is we won’t win these close games,” Herdman said.

“That’ll be our main focus against Singapore, who should give us opportunity to work in those areas.’

New Zealand play Singapore on Wednesday and Canada on Friday – both in Singapore – before returning to China to prepare for Olympic group G matches against Japan, Norway and USA.

Football Ferns 0 China 1 (Han Duan 5)
Qinhuangdao, China

Football Ferns: Jenny Bindon (GK), Ria Percival, Rebecca Smith (Kristy Hill 71), Abby Erceg, Marlies Oostdam (Anna Green 46), Ali Riley, Katie Hoyle, Hayley Moorwood (Captain), Kirsty Yallop, Amber Hearn (Rebecca Tegg 73), Renee Leota (Emma Kete 46).
Substitutes not used: Rachel Howard (RGK), Emily McColl, Merissa Smith.
Head coach: John Herdman

AUCKLAND – A travel-weary Thai Airways Oly-Whites side will look to restore energy levels after losing 0-2 to Indonesian club side Persikota Tangerang in Jakarta on Sunday night.

Persikota – a late change from the PSMS Medan opposition New Zealand were scheduled to play – scored in the 29th and 74th minutes to beat an Oly-Whites side still on a high from strong showings in their last four outings, including wins over Chile and the Central Coast Mariners.

“It’s a bit of a reality check,” New Zealand coach Stu Jacobs said.

“We didn’t play as well as we could have and we looked a wee bit ragged to be honest.”

“We were just too loose on the park. We had opportunities and probably had more possession than them but just didn’t use it well enough.

“We’re not accepting losing fixtures because we want to win every time we play but we realise we went into the game with players carrying niggles and had some fatigued bodies out there.

“The key now is to get people injury free and ready for Indonesia on Thursday.”

Midfielder Sam Jenkins left the field with left the field after just 20 minutes with a tight hamstring – which will be assessed overnight to gauge the extent of the injury – while striker Daniel Ellensohn also picked up a knock to an ankle and was substituted midway through the second half as a precaution.

Over-age player Simon Elliott – who joined the squad from London on Friday – did not take the field, with Jacobs preferring to give the 54 cap All White his first run against Indonesia.

“We just wanted to give him a bit more time really. He’s just got off a long flight and there wasn’t a great deal of value risking him in this game on what was a pretty average pitch.”

The Oly-Whites now face the Indonesian national team on Thursday before completing their build-up against club side Persija on Saturday. Celtic striker Chris Killen joins the team in camp on Wednesday and will be available for both clashes.

At the Olympics, New Zealand play hosts China and gold medal contenders Brazil in Shenyang on August 7 and 10 respectively before completing pool play against European dark horses Belgium in Shanghai on August 13.

In Jakarta: Thai Airways Oly-Whites 0 Persikota Tangerang 2

Thai Airways Oly-Whites: Liam Little (GK), Aaron Scott (captain), Michael Boxall, Steven Old, Ian Hogg, Sam Jenkins (Sam Messam 20), Shaun van Rooyen, Cole Peverley, Craig Henderson, Jeremy Brockie, Daniel Ellensohn (Cole Tinkler 66).
Substitutes not used: Jacob Spoonley (RGK), Jack Pelter, Simon Elliott.
Head Coach: Stu Jacobs

Story provided by NZF Media. For full story visit www.nzsoccer.com

The Bilikiki Boys were overwhelmed 13-4 by Portugal in their second match of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Marseille yesterday.

James Naka scored a second half hatrick for the Solomon Island team but it was not enough to come back from a five goal deificit against a classy Portugal side.

The loss effectively ends the Bilikiki Boys chances of progressing to the quarter finals with only one final game to play on Tuesday against El Salvador.

It was the joint-highest-scoring match in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup history and Portugal found the back of the net early on through Madja, Alan and Belchior who scored five, four and three times respectively to propel the Europeans to victory. 

Portugal led 5-0 at the first break, but Solomon Islands, to their credit, refused to give up the fight and managed two goals of their own in the second, both courtesy of James Naka.

The lively No10 completed his hat-trick in the third period, and Franco Nee also got on the score-sheet, but Henry Koto's side could not contain their opponents.

With six points, and a hugely-favourable goal difference, Portugal are now all but sure of a place in the last eight.

Solomon Island goalscorer James Naka said that his side still had all to play for in their last match against El Salvador.

"It was a tough game for us, it was really hot. Portugal are a really good team. Maybe I scored my last goal of the tournament today but we will do our best to win our last game," Naka said.

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup - Marseille 2008

Portugal 13: MADJER (2'24", 15'23", 16'06", 17'12", 24'44")ALAN (4'19", 4'36", 16'12", 28'50")OMO (4'58" OG)BELCHIOR (7'19", 33'06")Eddie NGAITIN

Solomon Islands 4: James NAKA (13'05", 16'08", 27'49")Franco NEE (31'04")

Group B Standings: