The match was the second in round two of Stage 3 Oceania qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and followed an even higher-scoring contest yesterday, New Zealand’s 6-1 success at home against the Solomon Islands. The pair of goal-fests leave the All Whites on top of the table with maximum points while New Caledonia shade out the Solomon Islands for second spot on goal difference.
Oceania champions Tahiti prop up the standings and must now take something from their upcoming meetings with New Zealand to keep their hopes alive.
“It was a crucial game for us,” New Caledonia coach Alain Moizan, a former France international, said.
“Thanks to this win, we have now stayed in contention to qualify for the next phase. We will have to earn good results in our next matches against the Solomon Islands and then prepare well for our trip to New Zealand.”
Clashes between traditional rivals New Caledonia and Tahiti are always hard-fought affairs and the sides have been closely matched on the scoreboard in recent years. That history pointed to another tense and tight encounter in today’s match and it looked like that would turn out to be the case as the teams headed into the sheds goalless.
Having witnessed the All Whites extend their lead on the ladder last night, both sides were fully aware of the need to get their campaigns underway with three points but, despite that great desire to find the net, few chances were carved out in the opening period. Any thoughts the spectators may have had of taking in a scoreless stalemate though were well and truly banished in a remarkable five-minute spell around the hour mark.
The hosts were left stunned when France-based midfielder Cesar Lolohea unleashed a shot from over 30 yards that struck the post and found its way in off veteran gloveman Xavier Samin to begin the scoring in spectacular fashion on 57 minutes. Before they had time to get their breath back, Tahiti found themselves three goals down as Lolohea turned provider twice in quick succession.
He first picked out Bertrand Kai for the 2011 OFC Player of the Year to extend the lead in the 60th minute before finding the head of Georges Gope-Fenepej, who had an empty net to aim for after Samin was left stranded. It was all but game over from that point on and Tahiti could find no way to breach Les Cagous’ rearguard, instead falling further behind when French Ligue 1 player Gope-Fenepej helped himself to a second in the dying moments.
The result – one of the highlights of New Caledonia’s recent record – will go some way towards avenging the outcome of June’s OFC Nations Cup, at which Les Cagous had to settle for runners-up to Tahiti.
Having experienced that unprecedented high, Toa Aito coach Eddy Etaeta is disappointed to have been brought back down to earth with two losses in Stage 3 and it won’t have helped that one of those defeats was against the old foe.
“We managed the first half well but the start of the second was more difficult,” he said.
“We lacked rhythm and the players did not look in good physical condition, I think the travel back from the Solomon Islands had a negative effect. It will now be difficult for us for the rest of the competition.”
Stage 3 of World Cup qualifying returns on October 12 with New Zealand travelling to Tahiti and Solomon Islands hosting New Caledonia.
Tahiti vs. New Caledonia Match Summary Download Here
New Zealand vs. Solomon Islands Match Summary Download Here

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