The All Whites posted a 2-0 victory away to Solomon Islands while Les Cagous triumphed 1-0 over franchophone rivals Tahiti on home soil in Noumea.
Having already wrapped up the Stage 3 title on Friday night with a dramatic 2-1 win over nearest rivals New Caledonia, the All Whites had no pressing need for a result in Honiara and coach Ricki Herbert therefore took the chance to shuffle his pack. Captain Winston Reid, Chris Killen, Michael McGlinchey, Marco Rojas, Shane Smeltz, Tommy Smith, Ivan Vicelich and Chris Wood were all excused from the trip while Aaron Clapham, Cameron Lindsay, Luke Rowe and Aaron Scott were brought in to fill the void.
Not one player who started Friday’s all-important win remained in the eleven this afternoon and it was a case of two unfamiliar-looking sides meeting each other as Solomon Islands coach Jacob Moli also chose to completely overhaul his squad, with mainstays Henry Fa’arodo and Benjamin Totori the only survivors from the 2-0 loss to Tahiti several days ago.
Despite hardly playing together, the new-look All Whites line-up – which included a first appearance for naturalised New Zealander Andrew Durante – did not take long to gel and it was one of the younger players handed the perfect chance to impress, Blackburn Rovers rookie Tim Payne, who grasped it with both hands. The 19-year-old was employed by Herbert is a roving role behind the main striker and did not take long to make an impression, beating Solomon Islands goalkeeper Samson Koti from 25 yards out in just the third minute.
With little to play for and confidence levels low after a disappointing campaign, it was always going to be hard for the Bonitos to get back into the match but they tried to do just that when Fa’arodo forced New Zealand goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley into action on 22 minutes. They struggled to create much more though in the face of a disciplined performance by the All Whites, who very nearly extended their lead when Kosta Barbarouses shaved the cross bar with a shot just before the break.
The second spell brought more of the same as Moli’s men attempted to give the fans at Lawson Tama Stadium something to cheer about but were frustrated by New Zealand’s dominance of the play and resolute defending. Payne almost put his side two up on 67 minutes but was denied by an impressive save from Koti.
Koti also kept out a curling shot from debutant Lindsay not long after but failed to stop New Zealand making the game safe with two minutes remaining, Payne finally earning his double when a Barbarouses shot rebounded out to him to tuck away.
“I think we played extremely well today under very tough conditions. We did not have the full team here but I am pleased with how the new players stood up to finish the job,” Herbert said.
“Overall the competition has been very good and we were tested quite well by New Caledonia. It is very good that we have finished with six wins out of six and this has taken us to where want to be and where we ought to be – on top.”
Bonitos boss Moli acknowledged his team was not up against a full-strength New Zealand but was proud of the way they took to the challenge.
“New Zealand is always a class side no matter what players they send so I don’t feel that we’ve missed an opportunity to get Solomon Islands’ first win against this team,” he said.
“Today was a very tough match because our team is dominated by new players. But I want to thank them for showing heart and proving themselves against a quality side like New Zealand. We matched our opponents in many aspects of the game but we gave them space to play at crucial times and this cost us.”
The day’s other match also had little riding on the outcome, although both sets of players would not have found motivation a problem against the auld enemy at Stade Numa Daly. In a typically tense encounter, it looked like New Caledonia and Tahiti would have to settle for a share of the spoils as the clocked ticked down with the scores still locked at nil-all.
But Cesar Lolohea, who scored a goal of outstanding technical ability in the loss to the All Whites, had a trick left up his sleeve and found the net again with a volley in the 85th minute to keep up his country’s perfect Stage 3 record against the non-New Zealand teams. The late loss is not what Tahiti coach Eddy Etaeta would have wanted as he looks to build confidence ahead of the French territory’s debut appearance in the FIFA Confederations Cup, to be held in Brazil in June.
The final pair of results mean Solomon Islands pick up the unwanted tag of wooden spooners while New Caledonia and Tahiti finish second and third respectively to champions New Zealand, The All Whites will now prepare for a home-and-away meeting with the fourth-placed CONCACAF nation for a place at Brazil 2014.

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