The fifth round of Stage 3 took place on Friday 22 March with New Zealand securing the Stage 3 title and booking a place in the intercontinental play-offs for Brazil 2014 with a 2-1 win over New Caledonia while Tahiti earned their first points of the campaign by beating Solomon Islands 2-0.
Here’s a look at the action that’s in store across the two matches on the final day.
Solomon Islands vs. New Zealand – 3pm Tuesday 26 March
The significance of this match’s result has been greatly diminished after New Zealand earned the Stage 3 title with a dramatic last-gasp 2-1 victory over New Caledonia on Friday night in Dunedin. But there is still plenty for many of the All Whites squad to play for as coach Ricki Herbert has overhauled his line-up for the trip to Honiara. With a place in the intercontinental play-offs already booked, Herbert has taken the chance to rest some of his stars and handed several players who have been on the fringes of the squad in recent months the chance to impress. Captain Winston Reid, Chris Killen, Michael McGlinchey, Marco Rojas, Shane Smeltz, Tommy Smith, Ivan Vicelich and Chris Wood have all been released from their duties while Aaron Clapham, Cameron Lindsay, Luke Rowe and Aaron Scott have all been brought in. The call-up is particularly significant for fullback Scott, who returns after being involved in the 2010 campaign but not making it to South Africa, and midfielder Lindsay, a versatile youngster who has played for New Zealand at every age group and is now in line for his senior debut. Phoenix captain Andrew Durante was not in the match day squad on Friday but is likely to see some game time in Honiara while fellow defender Ben Sigmund returns from suspension. There is only pride on the line for a new-look Solomon Islands team but, like New Zealand’s newcomers, most of the players have every motivation to impress as they are embarking on their first forays into the international game. They could not overcome their lack of experience against OFC Nations Cup champions Tahiti in a 2-0 loss on Friday and are likely to find the going tough again tomorrow.
In their own words
“The fact that this match no longer has an effect on qualification does not matter. It is a FIFA World Cup qualifying match and we will play with a desire and determination to win. We have other reasons to play for a win and will try our best to achieve that.” – Solomon Islands coach Jacob Moli
“Now the job is done we have an opportunity to replace our injured players and better handle the yellow card situation. We also have a responsibility to manage the workload of our players at this busy time of year with a view to the November play-off matches.” – New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert
New Caledonia vs. Tahiti – 6pm Tuesday 26 March
New Caledonia’s Les Cagous suffered bitter disappointment on Friday when a New Zealand goal with virtually the last play of the game denied them a draw that would’ve kept their hopes of reaching Brazil alive. If Alain Moizan’s men had been able to hang on at 1-1, the francophone derby against Tahiti a few days later would have assumed huge importance because a win, coupled with an All Whites’ loss in the other match, would have seen them top the group and move on to the intercontinental play-off. Moizan would much rather that prospect was still a possibility and may find it hard to lift the spirits of his troops for this encounter. Given the fact that it is against New Caledonia’s great sporting rivals however, the players should still be able to find the motivation to perform as a loss to the old foe is always deemed unacceptable. Tahiti waved goodbye to their chances of taking Stage 3 after a winless run in the first half of the campaign and their goal now is two-fold – to avoid the wooden spoon and boost their confidence levels ahead of their maiden appearance at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil in June. The Tahitians finally secured a win on Friday night against Solomon Islands and are now tied with the Bonitos at the foot of the table on three points. Whoever earns the better result tomorrow will finish in third place and at least sign off on a high. That will be the aim for Tahiti, as well as the need for each of the players to impress as they look to secure their place in Etaeta’s squad for Brazil.
In their own words
“We can’t earn anything from this game but we will play to win it of course. The players will play one last game together and will give their best. We are at home so we will play for the fans and our country. We want to finish these qualifiers in a positive way.” – New Caledonia coach Alain Moizan
‘’This game is part of our preparation for the Confederations Cup. We will be able to work on new tactics and organisation. We did not want to finish the qualifiers without a win and need to bring some more confidence into the team for the rest of our preparations.” – Tahiti coach Eddy Etaeta
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Stage 3 – Match Day 6 Preview
Solomon Islands vs. New Zealand
3pm local time, Tuesday 26 March
Lawson Tama Stadium
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Referee: Averii JACQUES [TAH]
Assistant Referee 1: Paul AHUPU [TAH]
Assistant Referee 2: Mahit Kaloata CHILIA [VAN]
4th Official: Robinson BANGA [VAN]
Solomon Islands: 1. Sammy OSO [GK], 3. Stewart QUAN, 4. Andrew MAERIBU, 5. George LADOGA, 7. Calvin ERICK, 8. Joachim RANDE, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Michael FIFI, 11. Wesley OLEA, 12. Tony HAVEA, 13. Alex WAIMORA, 18. Andrew ABBA, 19. Henry FA’ARODO
Coach: Jacob MOLI [SOL]
New Zealand: 1. Mark PASTON [GK], 3. Aaron SCOTT, 4. Ben SIGMUND, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Michael McGLINCHEY, 9. Luke ROWE, 12. Jacob SPOONLEY [GK], 13. Daniel KEAT, 14. Ian HOGG, 15. Cameron LINDSAY, 16. Jeremy BROCKIE, 17. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 18. Tim PAYNE, 20. Aaron CLAPHAM, 22. Andrew DURANTE
Coach: Ricki HERBERT [NZL]
New Caledonia vs. Tahiti
6pm local time, Saturday 26 March
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea, New Caledonia
Referee: Rakesh VARMAN [FIJ]
Assistant Referee 1: Noel BERRY [SOL]
Assistant Referee 2: Terry PIRI [COK]
4th Official: John SA’OHU [SOL]
New Caledonia: 1. Rocky NYIKEINE [GK], 2. Judickael IXOEE, 3. Emile BEARUNE, 4. Georges BEARUNE, 5. Kalaje GNIPATE, 6. Olivier DOKUNENGO, 7. Dominique WACALIE, 8. Miguel KAYARA, 10. César LOLOHEA, 11. Bertrand KAI, 12. Roy KAYARA, 13. Noel KAUDRE, 14. Jean-Patrick WAKANUMUNE, 17. Joël WAKANUMUNE, 19. Georges GOPE-FENEPEJ, 20. Steeve IXOEE [GK]
Coach: Alain MOIZAN [FRA]
Tahiti: 1. Xavier SAMIN [GK], 2. Henri CAROINE, 3. Vincent SIMON, 4. Ricky AITAMAI, 5. Stephane FAATIARAU, 6. Yohann TIHONI, 7. Teaonui TEHAU, 8. Nicolas VALLAR, 9. Stanley ATANI, 10. Steevy CHONG HUE, 11. Yannick VERO, 12. Efrain ARANEDA, 13. Jonathan TEHAU, 14. Donavan BOUREBARE, 15. Rainui AROITA, 16. Gary ROCHETTE, 17. Axel WILLIAMS, 18. Samuel HYANINE, 19. Angelo TCHEN, 20. Hiro POROIAE, 21. Edson LEMAIRE, 22. Gilbert MERIEL [GK], 23. Mikael ROCHE [GK]
Coach: Eddy ETAETA [TAH]