The third round follows the opening two days of Stage 3, which took place on September 7 and 11. New Zealand’s All Whites are on the top of the table after those matches and are the only team yet to lose while OFC Nations Cup champions Tahiti are the sole side waiting for their first victory.
Here’s a look at the action that’s in store across the two matches on the third day.
Solomon Islands vs. New Caledonia – 3pm Friday 12 October
With Tahiti having started Stage 3 in such disappointing fashion, these two teams have emerged as New Zealand’s strongest challengers for top spot and a draw here would suit the All Whites down to the ground. On the other side of the ledger, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia know how important it is to stay in the hunt with three points and are therefore likely to adopt an attacking approach as they look to keep their Brazil 2014 hopes alive. While the Bonitos have not been in action since the 6-1 defeat to New Zealand in the previous round, New Caledonia’s Les Cagous have got plenty of game time under their belts, travelling to Paris for the French Overseas Territories Cup. Coach Alain Moizan was pleased to have that opportunity but was disappointed with the performances of his men as they posted just one win from their four fixtures. Far less was riding on that competition than World Cup qualifying though and Moizan will be hoping the sizable carrot of Brazil will inspire the squad to an improved run of results. He is without the services of just one player, the suspended Emile Bearune, and will be confident of finding the net after watching Les Cagous end their stint in Paris with a remarkable 16-1 thumping of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Moizan’s counterpart Jacob Moli has been unable to include Jeffery Bule, Jack Wetney and goalkeeper Paul Huia, who have all joined up with the Solomon Islands futsal squad as they build towards next month’s World Cup in Thailand, but, as always, there is a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal. Striker Benjamin Totori is always a key figure but is likely to be even sharper than usual after going through a busy pre-season campaign with the Wellington Phoenix and making his A-League debut on Saturday. Lawson Tama Stadium is sure to be packed once more and the support of the Bonitos’ fanatical fans could prove crucial in a match neither side can afford to lose.
In their own words
“The boys have shown a lot of commitment and determination and, given that we have nine new players who weren’t at the Nations Cup, we have gelled well. We can create lots of chances and score goals and we believe in ourselves. We just need to base our plans on what we have at our disposal and focus on our strengths.” – Solomon Islands captain Henry Fa’arodo
“We reacted well after the loss to New Zealand in the first game. We hope Tahiti will beat New Zealand and that we will be able to do the same against Solomon Islands. The Solomons are a very talented and creative team with good technical skills. When they play at home they are always able to produce some good football. We will need to impose ourselves on the game and stay faithful to the way we like to play.” – New Caledonia coach Alain Moizan
Tahiti vs. New Zealand – 8pm Friday 12 October
After notching two wins from two, New Zealand’s All Whites are the only side with a perfect record in Stage 3 and know a pair of victories in rounds three and four against Tahiti could all but book them a spot in the inter-continental play-off for Brazil, depending on the outcomes of the Solomon Islands-New Caledonia clashes. Whatever happens between those two, New Zealand will remain in control of their own destiny if their winning ways continue and coach Ricki Herbert’s focus will very much be on his own charges rather than the need to counter the opposition. He will, however, be concerned with the fitness of key defenders Ryan Nelsen and Winston Reid, who are both in doubt after picking up injuries in English Premier League action over the weekend. They have been named in the squad but are yet to arrive down under and appear likely to miss this match before joining up with the All Whites for the return fixture in Christchurch on Tuesday. There are no changes elsewhere in the squad as Herbert has understandably kept faith with the line-up that has done the job so far. The Tahiti team also has a settled look to it but coach Eddy Etaeta has plenty of head-scratching to do after seeing his side follow their Nations Cup triumph with a winless start to Stage 3. But he will be buoyed by a positive showing at the recent French Overseas Territories Cup, which saw the Toa Aito beat defending champions Martinique 3-2 and earn a 1-0 win over fellow francophones New Caledonia – sweet revenge for their 4-0 loss to the same opponents in the previous round of Stage 3. Etaeta has called up Marama Vahirua for each of the prior Stage 3 matches but the former France U-21 international is yet to take part and, while he has been named again, it would be a major surprise if the striker – now on loan at Greek club Panthrakikos from Nancy – fronts for either match against New Zealand.
In their own words
“If we are able to achieve a positive result, the qualifiers will be totally opened up. We know more about New Zealand after their last two games and it is definitely not the same team we saw at the Nations Cup. We have done a lot of travelling and played many games in a short period of time which has affected the players on a mental and physical level. But we complained that we didn’t play enough internationals over the last eight years so now we have to enjoy it.” – Tahiti coach Eddy Etaeta
“We’ll work around Winston and Ryan being with us in Christchurch because I think the timing will mean they won’t make it to Tahiti. It will be a chance for some other players to step up which will be good and I think we’ll be fine. I’m comfortable with the depth of the squad and we have a couple of different pairings that can play at the back. Leo Bertos is an option at right back which gives us the ability to play a back four but we’ll see.” – New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert
Match Details
Solomon Islands vs. New Caledonia
3pm local time, Friday 12 October
Lawson Tama Stadium
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Referee: Peter O’LEARY [NZL]
Assistant Referee 1: Glen LOCHRIE [NZL]
Assistant Referee 2: Mark RULE [NZL]
4th Official: Andrew ACHARI [FIJ]
Solomon Islands: 1. Samson KOTI [GK], 2. Hardies AENGARI, 3. Nelson SALE, 4. Tome FAISI, 5. Freddie KINI, 6. Leslie NATE, 7. Henry FA’ARODO, 8. Emmanuel POILA, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Joe LUWI, 11. Ian PAIA, 12. Gagame FENI, 13. Joachim WAROI, 14. Joses NAWO, 15. Mostyn BEUI, 16. Himson TELEDA, 17. Paul HIRI, 18. Seni NGAVA, 19. Loni GARABA, 20. Leon FOX [GK], 21. Tutizama TANITO, 22. Willie LAMANI
Coach: Jacob MOLI
New Caledonia: 1. Rocky NYIKEINE [GK], 2. Jeremie DOKUNENGO, 4. Georges BEARUNE, 5. Kalaje GNIPATE, 6. Olivier DOKUNENGO, 7. Dominique WACALIE, 8. Miguel KAYARA, 9. Jacques HAEKO, 10. Cesar LOLOHEA, 11. Bertrand KAI, 12. Roy KAYARA, 13. Noel KAUDRE, 14. Jean-Patrick WAKANUMUNE, 15. Dick KAUMA, 16. Iamel KABEU, 17. Joel WAKANUMUNE, 18. Yohann MERCIER, 19. Georges GOPE-FENEPEJ, 20. Steeve IXOEE [GK], 21. Luther WAHNYAMALLA, 22. Marc OUNEMOA [GK], 23. Pierre NYIKEINE
Coach: Alain MOIZAN
Tahiti vs. New Zealand
8pm local time, Friday 12 October
Stade Pater
Papeete, Tahiti
Referee: Bruce GEORGE [VAN]
Assistant Referee 1: Ravinesh KUMAR [FIJ]
Assistant Referee 2: Noel BERRY [SOL]
4th Official: John SAOHU [SOL]
Tahiti: 1. Gilbert MERIEL [GK], 2. Alvin TEHAU, 3. Tauraa MARMOUYET, 4. Teheivarii LUDIVION, 5. Tamatoa WAGEMANN, 6. Lorenzo TEHAU, 7. Pierre KUGOGNE, 8. Angelo TCHEN, 9. Teaonui TEHAU, 10. Nicholas VALLAR, 11. Stanley ATANI, 12. Sébastien LABAYEN, 13. Steevy CHONG HUE, 14. Rainui AROITA, 15. Axel WILLIAMS, 16. Efrain ARANEDA,
17. Jonathan TEHAU, 18. Pierre KOHUMOETINI, 19. Vincent SIMON, 20. Yannik VERO, 21. Marama VAHIRUA, 22. Mikael ROCHE [GK], 23. Xavier SAMIN [GK]
Coach: Eddy ETAETA
New Zealand: 1. Mark PASTON [GK], 2. Winston REID, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Ben SIGMUND, 5. Tommy SMITH, 6. Ryan NELSEN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Michael McGLINCHEY, 9. Shane SMELTZ, 10. Chris KILLEN, 11, Marco ROJAS, 12. Glen MOSS [GK], 13. Daniel KEAT, 14. Ivan VICELICH, 15. Jeremy BROCKIE, 16. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 17. Tim PAYNE, 19. Chris WOOD
Coach: Ricki HERBERT