NOUMEA – New Caledonia beat Vanuatu 3-0 at Stade Numa Daly over the weekend as both nations sought to bolster their respective 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™/OFC Nations Cup 2008 campaigns.

The win preserves New Caledonia’s unbeaten record and means they must win their  two remaining matches against New Zealand to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

New Zealand has three wins from three matches and one more victory will be enough to propel Ricki Herbert’s charges into a two-legged play-off with the fifth placed team in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and FIFA Confederations Cup – South Africa 2009 as winners of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Nations Cup 2008.

Vanuatu remain winless after four matches with only the solitary point gained from their earlier draw with New Caledonia.

www.oceaniafootball.com is pleased to bring you the best of the action courtesy of photographer Alain Vartane – email: [email protected]

 

 New Caledonian goal scorer Michel Hmae chases down a ball

The New Caledonian starting eleven prior to kick off

New Caledonia’s Wilson Forrest fights off a Vanuatu challenge near his teams bench.

Francois Sakama from Vanuatu puts a ball into the box

New Caledonia goal scorer Pierre Wajoka takes on a Vanuatu defender.

The New Caledonia wall tenses as they try to protect their lead

Pierre Wajoka scored the opening goal for New Caledonia

Michel Hmae makes it two for New Caledonia after sixty minutes

Jean Patrick Wakanumune from New Caledonia gets tangled up with his own team mate

It’s all over at Stade Numa Daly – New Caledonia 3 – Vanuatu 0