ADELAIDE, 2 June 2004: Vanuatu has caused a huge upset in beating New Zealand 4-2 in the final match of round three at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight.
Vanuatu led 1-0 at the break courtesy of a brilliant goal from midfield general Seimata Chillia.
The All Whites hit back with a goal to replacement striker Vaughan Coveny after the break. But Vanuatu stole the lead back through defender Lexa Bula Bibi who through the middle to follow through a Chillia pass.
Vanuatu extended the lead to 3-1 when Jean Maleb struck in the 72nd minute but Coveny kept his team in touch with his second goal not long after to make the score 3-2.
But rather than caving in under the pressure of the last quarter, Vanuatu hung on and were rewarded when Alphose Qorig scored the winner four minutes from the end. The 4-2 winning margin confirmed the result as a historic victory for the island nation over Oceania’s second ranked nation.
FULL MATCH REPORT TO FOLLOW ON OFFICIAL WEBSITE LINKED TO OFC WEBSITE HOMEPAGE