ADELAIDE, 6 June 2004: The Solomon Islands have pulled off an unlikely 2-2 draw against Oceania heavyweights Australia tonight at Hindmarsh Stadium.
They now qualify for the OFC Nations Cup final home and away playoffs against Australia on 9 & 13 October, 2004, and again on 3 & 7 September, 2005 for the right to represent the OFC in the 2006 FIFA World Cup playoff against the fifth placed team from South America (CONMEBOL).
With the Socceroos expected to roll over the Solomons, extra pressure had been mounted on the Solomons after New Zealand’s comprehensive 2-0 win over Fiji in the earlier game which meant they had to at least draw to secure the second playoff spot. But they responded in kind to the lofty challenge with Commins Menapi the hero, scoring both goals for his side.
Menapi opened the scoring and helped his team to shock 1-0 lead at half-time. However, the Frank Farina coached Socceroos maintained their composure to reply with goals to midfield dynamo Tim Cahill and Brett Emerton in the second half.
But with a quarter of an hour left in regulation time, Menapi equalised with a well taken goal. Handicapped by the sending off of defender Patrick Kisnorbo who recieved his second yellow card thus reducing the Socceroos to ten men, the home team was unable to find the winner and the Solomons held on for the draw and more importantly, a historic result to propel them into the final qualifying round for both the Nations Cup and the World Cup playoffs, denying New Zealand the runner up spot.
FULL REPORT TO FOLLOW ON THE OFFICIAL OFC NATIONS CUP WEBSITE LINKED TO THE HOMEPAGE