The winner-takes-all match kicks off at Owen Delany Park from 4:00pm following the 3rd/4th play-off between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu at 1:00pm.
Tickets for finals day can be purchased from the gate and are priced at $10 for adults and $5 for teenagers/over-65s, while ages 12 and under can enter for free.
Here’s a look at the action that’s in store.
Papua New Guinea vs. Vanuatu, 3rd/4th Play-off – 1:00pm Sunday 25 March
Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu would have had high hopes of reaching the final but will now settle for third place at best. Vanuatu pushed New Zealand all the way in their semi-final with 17-year-old Jean Kaltack once again getting on the score sheet while Kensi Tangis’ injury-time goal made for a thrilling finish. Richard Iwai’s side is full of young talent and their free-spirited style makes them unpredictable for opposition defences. But Papua New Guinea are well organised under Frank Farina, led at the back by the two Rolands – captain Roland Bala and goalkeeper Roland Warisan. Creativity is provided by diminutive midfielder Emmanuel Simon, who has been outstanding, but Papua New Guinea have struggled to find a strong combination up front. With all three goals coming against minnows Tonga, they will need to find their scoring boots to have any chance tomorrow. The unflappable Brian Kaltack will be standing in their way as he hopes to lead the Vanuatu ‘Dream Team’ to a third place finish. If the scores are locked after 90 minutes, the match will go straight to a penalty shoot-out.
In their own words
“It would be nice to finish on a high and it’s good to get another game because it gives us a chance to have a look at some of the players that haven’t had a lot of game time. It’s a very young squad that we’ve got so we’re looking to develop some players for the future. Hopefully, a lot of them will go on to play for the national team. But we’ll definitely be going out there trying to win the game.” – Papua New Guinea Coach Frank Farina
“It’s important to win something to take back home to our supporters and make them proud. We came here to achieve something and we need to make sure we do that. Papua New Guinea are very strong and have prepared well for this tournament. I think they use a similar system to us so it will be a close game but we’ll just have to see what happens by the final whistle.” – Vanuatu coach Richard Iwai
Fiji vs. New Zealand, Final – 4:00pm Sunday 25 March
The last time these two sides met in Olympic qualifying four years ago it took a 90th minute winner for New Zealand to seal a 2-1 victory over hosts Fiji on the opening day. Fijian captain Esava Naqeleca and Oly White Greg Draper are the only two survivors of that match and are sure to be key figures tomorrow. Unlike the round-robin format in 2008, this year it will come down to just one match and with the form of both teams going into the final, it could be another close encounter. Fiji and New Zealand boast the best defensive records conceding two goals each during the tournament. They have also looked the most dangerous on set plays, particularly Fiji with Naqeleca leading by example scoring six goals in four matches – one shy of golden boot leader Ian Paia of the Solomon Islands. Jone Salauneune and Misaele Draunibaka provide Imdad Ali with plenty of strength up front while Archie Watkins has been solid in Fiji’s three-man defence. New Zealand may elect to match size with size and start the semi-final strike pairing of Greg Draper and Ethan Galbraith but Neil Emblen also has the option of using Dakota Lucas who ended up receiving a two-match suspension but is available for Sunday. Louis Fenton has impressed for the Oly Whites along with Sean Lovemore off the bench but it could all come down the goalkeepers – Jake Gleeson and his opposite number Akuila Mateisuva – in what is expected to be a low scoring affair. If the game is tied after 90 minutes, there will be extra–time followed by penalties to decide OFC’s representative at the 2012 Olympics.
In their own words
“We will have to play well, there’s no two ways about it. We will make sure we prepare ourselves well. We will look at some of the mistakes our players have made across the tournament and try to iron them out so that we are a better team for the final. But I’m quite happy with how the boys are playing and I think we should be able to do well. New Zealand play in a direct style and have some big boys up front so it’s going to be a physical game.” – Fiji coach Imdad Ali
“They play with three at the back and are slightly more defensive but they’ve got two boys up front who work hard for the team to retain possession and get them up the pitch. We’ll definitely have to get our zonal areas right and make sure we get our heads on aerial stuff when it comes. We’ve got a good keeper so he can take a bit of pressure off the boys. We also look very dangerous on set plays so they’re probably saying the same thing about us. – New Zealand coach Neil Emblen
For the full schedule and results click here