New Zealand v Solomon Islands
The opening match of round two of the 2004 OFC Nations Cup between New Zealand and the Solomon Islands is potentially the most crucial of the tournament.
In one corner is New Zealand, who having lost to Australia last night are under immense pressure to post a win against the tournaments form team to ease their qualification concerns.
Opposite them are the Solomon Islands, who are having the time of their lives in Adelaide on the back of their longest ever unbeaten run.
Since Englishman Alan Gillett took over the reigns in April, the Solomons have embarked on a killer stretch that has now seen the men in green and blue go seven matches without loss.
More importantly, his 22-man squad has the desire and ambition to burn the history books and do what no island side has done for nearly a decade – knock off one of the tyrants of Oceania.
The possibility for Gillett’s men is greater than it has ever been and the well-traveled mastermind will be salivating at the chance of World Cup glory tomorrow.
The Solomons carry the tag as one of Oceania’s great entertainers and whilst their goal scoring exploits have come to the fore under Gillett, their defensive stubbornness has been most encouraging.
With young gun Nelson Sale and giant George Suri in control at the back, the Solomons have leaked just three goals since Gillett’s arrival, scoring 19 in the process.
Next up for Gillett and his ambitious brigade is Mick Waitt’s New Zealand and one can be assured that the Solomons coach is under no illusions as to the enormity of the task at hand.
Waitt and his All Whites surprised many onlookers last night in putting forth a stern challenge to the Qantas Socceroos at Hindmarsh Stadium.
The script suggested an Australian field day, but as has become the New Zealand way, the Kiwis held no quarter when dealing with their Trans Tasman rivals and left Hindmarsh Stadium with wry grins having given a fantastic account of them selves.
Tomorrows match will provide the All Whites with their most prudent opportunity yet to snap their concerning winless streak, which stretches back nine games to July 2002.
A notable absentee from the New Zealand side that fell 1-0 to Australia last night was skipper and defensive linchpin Ryan Nelsen and Waitt will no doubt be hopeful the DC United stopper is available for tomorrow’s match.
Interestingly, the Kiwis and the Solomons have met just twice previously, the most recent being a resounding 6-1 win to New Zealand in the last round of World Cup Qualifiers.
The other encounter ended much more credibly for the Solomon Islands, that being a 2-0 loss in Papeete for the 2000 OFC Nations Cup.
The Marden Sports Complex has seldom held a game of such prestige and tomorrows result will be paramount to the World Cup ambitions of both teams on hand.
Australia v Tahiti
The first of two matches at Hindmarsh Stadium tomorrow night brings together the Qantas Socceroos and Tahiti, in what should be a fascinating contest between the giants of Oceania and the highest ranked island nation.
The two teams have quite a decorated past, with the most famous encounter being as recent as two years ago, where Tahiti came within a breath of causing the most monumental upset in Oceania history.
A last gasp goal from Qantas Socceroo veteran Mehmet Durakovic spared the Australians blushes on that day and Gerard Kautai’s current crop will be looking for a repeat of that stellar performance tomorrow night.
The Qantas Socceroos are on a high after registering a first up victory against traditional rivals New Zealand last night, with coach Farina today naming a vastly different lineup to that which accounted for the All Whites.
Making their first start in Qantas Socceroo colours will be Partick Thistle defender Adrian Madaschi and Millwall’s Tim Cahill, who will start on the right side of midfield as cover for Brett Emerton.
FC Basel attacker Scott Chipperfield and former Aberdeen striker David Zdrilic have been recalled to Farina’s starting eleven, while Perth Glory defender Jade North earns his first start since the 2002 OFC Nations Cup final in Auckland.
In other squad news, goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has not recovered in time from his hip injury and has left the Australian camp.
Qantas Socceroos Starting Lineup v Tahiti: Zeljko Kalac (gk), Jade North, Tony Vidmar, Adrian Madaschi, Stan Lazaridis, Tim Cahill, Vince Grella, Josip Skoko, Scott Chipperfield, John Aloisi, David Zdrilic
Farina was particularly looking forward to the appearance of Cahill, who will be making his first start for his home country on home soil.
“One of Tim’s strengths and where he picks up a lot of goals for Millwall is coming in deep at the back, so we’ll be looking at him to do that,” spoke Farina of the FA Cup finalist.
“He’s definitely got the ability and he’s got the engine to do it and he’s another one, I think, anywhere across the midfield he’d do a good job.”
Zdrilic’s introduction to the Qantas Socceroo frontline means the out of contract striker will be reunited with Osasuna’s John Aloisi for the first time in nearly three years.
“Last time they played together was when we beat New Zealand 4-1 in a World Cup qualifier and they got a brace a piece I think,” said Farina.
“With so many games we’ve got to try and balance and juggle to keep everyone fresh and sharp and that’s part of the reason David’s come in.”
In all of Australia’s encounters with island nations, Tahiti’s record is second only to Fiji (the only island nation to beat the Qantas Socceroos).
The Tahitians have twice achieved the feat of netting a goal against Australia and aside from a series of blown out scores in the mid nineties, have always left an arena after a date with Oceania’s superpower with their credibility intact.
After a colossal scare in Auckland in July 2002, Farina knows all to well the perils of expecting an easy victory against Polynesians.
“That’s what they said two years ago!” said Farina when asked if his side would win comfortably.
“In the game, anything’s possible, they played with one man upfront yesterday, pretty isolated. I expect that they’ll be well organized at the back.
“It’s mental for us, we’ve got to make sure we go out prepared to play and execute the playing we’ve been putting in place in terms of pressing.
“If we don’t do that, we’re going to have problems.”
The Tahitians looked sharp in their opening stalemate with Fiji and showed enough balance around the park to potentially pose a few problems for Frank Farina’s men.
Particularly impressive was goalkeeper Daniel Tapeta, who was largely responsible for keeping his side in the game and attackers Billy Mataitai and Felix Tagawa, the latter of which enjoyed a brief stint with NSL outfit Brisbane Strikers in 2002/2003.
Coming into the tournament as distinct underdogs, given their sub-par performances in the stage one qualifiers in Honiara, the Tahitians have made a bright start to their 2004 OFC Nations Cup campaign and will head into tomorrows match bursting with anticipation and eagerness.
Under Kautai, the only locally born coach of any of the island nations, the Tahitians have yet to lose a match in five starts, although it must be said that three of those have been draws.
After scraping past minnows the Cook Islands and Tonga in Honiara, Tahiti grinded out deadlocks with fellow Polynesians New Caledonia and the hosts to book a place in Adelaide.
Another clean sheet against the Fijians last night means that Kautai’s men have conceded just the one goal in his 450 minute tenure, somethin
g that the Qantas Socceroos will try to eradicate tomorrow.
Tomorrows match will be the eighth between the two countries, with the Qantas Socceroos having won all eight up to this point.
Although an upset seems unlikely tomorrow, the Qantas Socceroos appreciate, more than most, the danger of the pride of Polynesia and will be determined to put in a positive showing in front of their home fans.
Fiji v Vanuatu
Group B qualifiers Fiji and Vanuatu will meet again tomorrow night in what is a pivotal match to the ambitions of both nations.
The Vanuatuans need all three points to stay in the hunt for a top two finish after being humbled by fellow Melanesians the Solomon Islands at the Marden Sports Complex yesterday.
As for Fiji, Tony Buesnel’s men would have been disappointed to have finished last nights opener with Tahiti without a win to their name, having dominated for substantial segments of the match.
Regardless, with the Qantas Socceroos being next up for Buesnel’s men, the Fijians will want to enter the winners’ circle before their big match.
Their clash with Vanuatu offers Fiji a unique opportunity to arrest Carlos Buzzetti’s men from assuming the mantle as Oceania’s top island team.
After holding bragging rights amongst the island contingent for so long, Fiji have endured somewhat of a slide in recent times, much to the delight of Vanuatu who have since established them selves as Oceania’s primary emerging force.
Taking into consideration their less than ideal buildup, Fiji looked promising in Apia’s qualifying tournament and coach Buesnel will be hopeful of getting it right on the park tomorrow night.
Clashes with Vanuatu have not brought much success for Fiji in recent times, with the Fijians last scoring a goal against Buzzetti’s men in April 2000 – four matches ago.
The Vanuatuans are no doubt deflated after their disappointing loss to the Solomons after they were touted as the team most likely to upset Oceania’s big two coming into the tournament.
Buzzetti’s charges lacked that final edge and clinical nous that has brought them much success over the years in losing their first match of their campaign towards Germany 2006.
Tomorrow nights clash under lights at Hindmarsh offers Vanuatu a chance at redemption and, more importantly, a chance to force them selves back into the reckoning for qualification for the next stage, a dream that Buzzetti will know is not beyond his team.
At the conclusion of the final match of round two, Oceania’s football punditry will have a much better indication as to who is most likely to formulate a challenge for stage three qualification.
Both Fiji and Vanuatu are in the hunt, but three points will spell the beginning and the end for one or the other tomorrow.
For up to date results and stats, visit the official tournament website linked to the homepage