The second round follows the opening day of Stage 3 on Friday 7 September, during which Solomon Islands defeated Tahiti 2-0 and New Zealand swept aside New Caledonia by the same scoreline.
Here’s a look at the action that’s in store across the two matches on the second day.
Tahiti vs. New Caledonia – 8pm Tuesday 11 September
Clashes between these traditional sporting rivals are always intense and keenly-contested affairs but this match will have even greater significance than most after both sides began their campaigns with losses on Friday. With Solomon Islands and New Zealand poised to extend their lead at the top of the table in the other match, it is vital one of the francophone pair picks up maximum points here to keep up with the early pace. As only one side can progress through to the next stage of World Cup qualifying – a play-off against the fourth-placed CONCACAF team – no side can afford to embark on a poor run and the Tahiti and New Caledonia camps will be fully aware of the need to get off the mark. In a blow to Tahiti’s chances, the Toa Aito will be without inspirational skipper Nicolas Vallar, who received his marching orders in the Solomon Islands defeat and is therefore suspended. But they do have home advantage and, despite that first-up loss, retain some of the aura associated with being Oceania champions, a tag gained by their surprise success at the OFC Nations Cup. New Caledonia’s Les Cagous were the ones Tahiti edged past in the final of that tournament and will be keen to exact some revenge on their fellow French territory. Having barely tested New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Paston on Friday, they will be desperate to create more on attack this time and the likes of Bertrand Kai, Georges Gope-Fenepej and Jacques Haeko can surely not be kept scoreless for long. Both teams have players back from suspension should they wish to bring them into the squad with Lorenzo Tehau and Angelo Tchen available again for Tahiti and Judikael Ixoee and Marius Bako free to be involved for New Caledonia.
In their own words
“It is important for us to rest but that will be very difficult because of the amount of time we have to spend travelling. We have not started in the way that we wanted to and did not play with enough aggressiveness and determination in our first game.” – Tahiti coach Eddy Etaeta
“We weren’t rigorous enough in defence against New Zealand and did not create enough opportunities to score, that was the big difference from our win over them at the Nations Cup. It will be a tough game in Tahiti as we have both lost our first matches and need to get a win.” – New Caledonia captain Olivier Dokunengo
New Zealand vs. Solomon Islands – 7.35pm Tuesday 11 September
After a disappointing showing at the Nations Cup, there was a feeling in some quarters that New Zealand’s All Whites may have lost their lustre as the Pacific’s dominant force and that a changing of the guards could well be on the horizon. But those thoughts were dispelled on Friday as a re-focused and better prepared New Zealand team stamped its authority on New Caledonia to earn a no-nonsense victory. Les Cagous failed to create any chances of real note in Noumea and much of the All Whites’ defensive solidarity was built on the returning pair of Ryan Nelsen and Winston Reid, who proved how important they are to the cause as part of a reunited back three with Tommy Smith. That key trio will need to be at its best again on Tuesday though as the Bonitos boast a wealth of skilful attacking talent and will be full of confidence after their win over the Oceania champions. The talismanic pair of Benjamin Totori and Henry Fa’rodo teamed up for the first goal against Tahiti while the Bonitos’ fanatical fans may have another hero on their hands in young winger Himson Teleda, who also got on the scoresheet to the delight of the thousands who had crammed into Lawson Tama Stadium. Teleda may prove to be an important weapon against New Zealand as All Whites coach Ricki Herbert knows little about him compared to the likes of Totori and Fa’arodo – who are familiar to the hosts due to their spells in New Zealand and Australia – and he is likely to therefore be granted more room to display his talents. Reid and Smith took slight injuries back with them from Noumea but should be fit to start while neither side has any players missing through suspension.
In their own words
“It will be another difficult game but it will be good to be back playing in New Zealand. The Solomon Islands had a really good win and the result showed again how hard it is to play over there. The Oceania teams are all improving and there are some good young players coming through. They are all hard games now and we can’t afford to take anyone lightly because they are too good for that.” – New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen
“We now have to shift our focus to the next game and get into the right mind set to face our opponents. New Zealand are a world-class side and playing them away will be difficult but nevertheless we want maximum points and that is what we will work hard for.” – Solomon Islands coach Jacob Moli
Match Details
Tahiti vs. New Caledonia
8pm local time, Tuesday 11 September
Stade Pater
Papeete, Tahiti
Referee: Andrew ACHARI [FIJ]
Assistant Referee 1: Mark RULE [NZL]
Assistant Referee 2: Rakesh CHANDRA [FIJ]
4th Official: Rakesh VARMAN [FIJ]
Tahiti: 1. Xavier SAMIN [GK], 2. Alvin TEHAU, 3. Vincent SIMON, 4. Teheivarii LUDIVION, 5. Ariihau TERIITAU, 7. Henri CAROINE, 9. Teaonui TEHAU, 11. Stanley ATANI, 12. Hiro POROIAE, 13. Steevy CHONG HUE, 14. Roihau DEGAGE, 15. Sebastien LABAYEN, 16. Efrain ARANEDA, 17. Jonathan TEHAU, 18. Axel WILLIAMS, 19. Marama VAHIRUA, 20. Yannik VERO, 21. Tauraa MARMOUYET, 22. Mikael ROCHE [GK], 23. Gilbert MERIEL [GK]
Coach: Eddy ETAETA
New Caledonia: 1. Rocky NYIKEINE [GK], 2. Jeremie DOKUNENGO, 3. Emile BEARUNE, 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
New Zealand vs. Solomon Islands
7.35pm local time, Tuesday 11 September
North Harbour Stadium
Auckland, New Zealand
Referee: Bertrand BILLON [NCL]
Assistant Referee 1: Terry PIRI [COK]
Assistant Referee 2: Michael JOSEPH [VAN]
4th Official: Bruce GEORGE [VAN]
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, 18. Michael BOXALL, 19. Chris WOOD
Coach: Ricki HERBERT
Solomon Islands: 1. Samson KOTI [GK], 2. Hardies AENGARI, 3. Nelson SALE KILIFA, 4. Tome FAISI, 5. Freddie KINI, 6. Leslie NATE, 7. Henry FA’ARODO, 8. Jeffery BULE, 9. Benjamin TOTORI, 10. Joe LUWI, 11. Ian PAIA, 12. Gagame FENI, 13. Joachim WAROI, 14. Joses NAWO, 15. Jack WETNEY, 16. Himson TELEDA, 17. Paul HIRI, 18. Seni NGAVA, 19. Loni GARABA, 20. Paul HUIA [GK], 21. Emmanuel POILA, 22. Willie LAMANI, 23. Phillip MANGO [GK]
Coach: Jacob MOLI