The fourth round of Stage 3 took place on Tuesday 16 October 2012 with New Zealand continuing their unbeaten run with a 3-0 win over Tahiti and New Caledonia keeping up the pace on the All Whites by sweeping aside Solomon Islands 5-0.
Here’s a look at the action that’s in store across the two matches on the fifth day.
Tahiti vs. Solomon Islands – 8pm Friday 22 March
As neither of these sides can now top the group and thus progress to the next step of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, their final two matches are dead rubbers in terms of the significance of the results. But each set of players still have plenty to play for and will be desperate to put in some impressive personal performances. For the Tahiti players, these games are a golden opportunity to prove their worth to coach Eddy Etaeta as he looks to get a clear indication of who he will take to Brazil in June for the French territory’s maiden appearance at the FIFA Confederations Cup. Many members of the squad will be unsure of their place after failing to follow up their historic OFC Nations Cup triumph with further success in Stage 3. The Tahitians currently lie at the bottom of the table and are yet to record a point from their four matches – a scenario that is far from ideal as Etaeta looks to build confidence ahead of facing several giants of the world game in Brazil. The Solomon Islands players will also be out to impress as a high percentage of the line-up are set to make their first appearance for their country at this level. Due to financial constraints, only 13 players will travel to Papeete and most of these are based in New Zealand. Coach Jacob Moli will not be making the trip so inspirational captain Henry Fa’arodo will take charge of the team. The names of Fa’arodo and talismanic striker Benjamin Totori – out of favour in recent weeks at the Wellington Phoenix – are the only ones likely to be familiar to Pacific football fans but Fa’arodo will hope the new talent coming in can use the element of surprise to their advantage.
In their own words
“We have to win this game because it is at home and we cannot finish the qualifiers without a win. These last two games are part of our preparations for the Confederations Cup and it is important to bring some confidence into the team. We will be able to work on new tactics and organisation.” – Tahiti coach Eddy Etaeta
“We don’t have a chance to qualify anymore but we will play these matches to win and represent the Solomon Islands well. We have had a lot of changes in the squad with new players coming in from New Zealand. It is almost an entirely new team but the boys will give it all they’ve got because it will be the first cap for some of them.” – Solomon Islands captain Henry Fa’arodo
New Zealand vs. New Caledonia – 7.45pm Friday 22 March
This is undoubtedly the most eagerly awaited match of Stage 3 so far and its outcome could result in the finding of Oceania’s qualifier for the next phase. New Zealand’s All Whites are in pole position after posting a perfect record of four wins from four matches and another victory here would see them top the group and move on to face the fourth-placed team in CONCACAF for a place at Brazil 2014. But they are not likely to find the going easy against a New Caledonia side who also still have every chance of overhauling New Zealand and keeping their dreams of making Brazil alive. Since the All Whites gained revenge for their OFC Nations Cup semi-final loss to New Caledonia with a 2-0 away victory in the opening round of Stage 3, Les Cagous have pulled off three high-scoring wins to sit just behind New Zealand on the ladder. Alain Moizan’s men trail the All Whites by three points and have an inferior goal differential of just one so a positive result would take Stage 3 down to the wire and mean the final round of matches on Tuesday 26 March would then become all-important. Having recently resigned from his post as coach of the Wellington Phoenix, All Whites boss Ricki Herbert is now able to focus solely on guiding his country to Brazil but another recent development has not gone in New Zealand’s favour. Captain Ryan Nelsen has hung up his boots to concentrate on his new career as coach of Major League Soccer club Toronto FC, leaving a gaping hole at both the heart of the defence and in the dressing room. His loss means the likes of young defenders Winston Reid, who has been named skipper, and Tommy Smith must assume more responsibility while Phoenix captain Andrew Durante has also been included. The Australian is now a New Zealand citizen but is unlikely to make his debut for his adopted country in Friday’s match while fellow defender Ben Sigmund is suspended.
In their own words
“There are no easy games in international football – we’ve proved that in recent years and also had a timely reminder of it from New Caledonia at the OFC Nations Cup in Honiara last year.” – New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert
“New Zealand are more experienced at playing high level matches than us and we have to be realistic. But we are not going there to be the victims and will keep fighting until the end.” – New Caledonia captain Olivier Dokunengo
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Stage 3 – Match Day 5 Preview
Tahiti vs. Solomon Islands
8pm local time, Friday 22 March
Stade Pater
Papeete, Tahiti
Referee: Andrew ACHARI [FIJ]
Assistant Referee 1: Rakesh CHANDRA [FIJ]
Assistant Referee 2: Alick LUKAI [VAN]
4th Official: Bruce GEORGE [VAN]
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]
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 vs. New Caledonia
7.45pm local time, Friday 22 March
Forsyth Barr Stadium
Dunedin, New Zealand
Referee: Strebre DELOVSKI [AUS]
Assistant Referee 1: Ashley BEECHAM [AUS]
Assistant Referee 2: David WALSH [AUS]
4th Official: Mohd Amirul Izwan BIN YAACOB [MAS]
New Zealand: 1. Mark PASTON [GK], 2. Winston REID, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 5. Tommy SMITH, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Michael McGLINCHEY, 9. Shane SMELTZ, 10. Chris KILLEN, 11. Marco ROJAS, 12. Glen MOSS [GK], 13. Daniel KEAT, 14. Ian HOGG, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. Jeremy BROCKIE, 17. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 18. Tim PAYNE, 20. Chris WOOD, 22. Andrew DURANTE
Coach: Ricki HERBERT [NZL]
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, 16. Iamel KABEU, 17. Joël WAKANUMUNE, 19. Georges GOPE-FENEPEJ, 20. Steeve IXOEE [GK]
Coach: Alain MOIZAN [FRA]