The two visitors dominated their Oceania counterparts to set up a high-quality final which saw Australia take apart their AFC counterparts 5-1. While New Zealand’s 1-0 victory over Tahiti in the third place play-off saw them secure their best result in a regional event to date.
Overall the tournament saw 130 goals registered, with the eight participating teams – New Zealand, New Zealand Invitational, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Malaysia and Australia – sending in a total of 1,298 shots over 17 games.
The second OFC Futsal Championship Invitational gets underway less than two weeks so OFC Futsal and Beach Soccer Development Officer Paul Toohey went back through the archives to pick out his top ten goals, in no particular order, of the previous edition.
Find out why these goals piqued his interest below, and watch along thanks to OFC TV here.
10. Jeffery BULE – Solomon Islands
“It’s a magnificent first touch and turn from Bule. A great throw by Anthony Talo too, but what I like is how quickly Bule’s lovely cushioned first touch gives him the opportunity to finish and it’s a fine effort.
9. Toby SEETO – Australia
“Superb distribution and awareness by the keeper to find Seeto. Konstantinou is a constant threat with this kind of ball and Seeto knows it. Then a sumptuous, rare half-volley – precision stuff.”
8. Thierry WAIMA – New Caledonia
“A cool finish, really nice. Waima makes a slight fake to draw the keeper and then lifts the ball into the back of the net. Effortless.”
7. Yvan POUROUORO – New Caledonia
“A fine individual goal with two great pieces of skill in 1v1 situations – first the ‘stop-start’ fake to beat the first player at halfway and the second a step-over to buy himself some room, before smashing an unstoppable pile-driver into the top far corner.”
6. Daniel FOGARTY – Australia
“This is a particular favourite of mine with some of the hallmarks of the nice ‘geometry’ we see in Australia’s game. A square ball and diagonal run from Fogarty. Then Seeto’s well-exectuted parallel return ball is well finished from wide by the instigator of the move. This kind of play can really cut teams to shreds.”
5. Fawzul MOHAMAD – Malaysia
“Great technique displayed here and a lovely volley on the turn. James Vaughan must have thought he had it covered – on the replay he’s thinking “how did he squeeze that one in?”
4. Pakoa RAKOM – Vanuatu
“A nicely worked free-kick, straight from training at the Ex F.O.L. Stadium in Port Vila. Simple but effective.”
3. Dylan MANICKUM – New Zealand
“Classic back-to-goal work from the pivot to receive the throw from the keeper and as he turns, the advancing runners give him an option either side. In that sense a textbook counterattack. Then a nicely timed pass followed by a great diagonal ball for a classic back post finish. Super goal.”
2. Mitchell WEBER – New Zealand Invitational
“Every keeper dreams of this kind of opportunity when their team is defending a power play. On this occasion the keeper has already sized up the opportunity, then as soon as he gets his chance, he reacts quickly and executes a perfect punt into the back of the net.”
1. Antoine TAVE – Tahiti
“Once again we see great work from the pivot. He stops the ball well with the sole of his foot and shields it nicely as he waits for the diagonal run from his teammate. A well-executed back-to-goal pass with the sole is followed by an emphatic finish from the return ball.”
The 2014 OFC Futsal Championship Invitational is being held at the Arene du Sud in Paita, New Caledonia from 12-16 August.