Vanuatu and New Caledonia are set to clash twice in the space of eight days in two Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Nations Cup/ 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa TM qualifiers in June.
Vanuatu will host New Caledonia at Port Vila Municipal Stadium on June 14 and then face the return leg at Numa Daly Stadium in Noumea on June 21.
New Caledonia will head into the match as favourites based on their impressive form during the home and away World Cup qualifiers against Fiji. After securing an encouraging point away from home with a 3-3 draw in Fiji, New Caledonia stormed to a 4-0 win in front of their home fans in Noumea.
New Caledonia sits five points behind table leaders New Zealand with one game in hand.
Vanuatu will be desperate for their first points of the qualification tournament after losing their two opening games 1-2 (home) and 4-1 (away) to New Zealand in matches late last year.
Two wins against New Caledonia are essential for Vanuatu if they are to keep their World Cup dream alive.
The winner of the 2008 Oceania Nations Cup/FIFA World Cup qualifiers will compete in a two-leg home and away playoff against the 5th placed team from the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) 2010 World Cup qualification process.
Date: 14 June 2008
Match: Vanuatu vs. New Caledonia
Venue: Port Vila
Kick-off: 14H00 Local Time
Stadium: Port Vila Municipal Stadium
Referee: VARMAN Rakesh Chand, (FIJ)
Assistant Referee 1: ACHARI Andrew Anand, (FIJ)
Assistant Referee 2: LOCHRIE Glen, (NZL)
Fourth Official: MOLI Andrew Didimae, (SOL)
Referee Assessor: RAVEINO Massimo, (TAH)
Comissioner: HARMON Lee, (COK)
Date: 21 June
Match: New Caledonia vs. Vanuatu
Venue: Noumea
Kick off: 15H00 Local Time
Stadium: Numa Daly
Referee: HESTER Michael (NZL)
Assistant Referee 1: MAKASINI Tevita (TON)
Assistant Referee 2: MOUAURI Michael (COK)
Fourth Official: O’LEARY Peter (NZL)
Referee Assessor: SEGRAN Chandra (FIJ)
Comissioner: ALUFURAI Martin (SOL)
OFC NATIONS CUP / 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA QUALIFICATION TABLE
|
|
PL |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
PTS |
| New Zealand |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
2 |
+6 |
9 |
| New Caledonia |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
3 |
+4 |
4 |
| Fiji |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
-6 |
1 |
|
| Vanuatu |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
-4 |
0 |
Match Day 3 – November 17th, 2007
Vanuatu vs. New Zealand
At Port Vila Municipal Stadium
Port Vila
Vanuatu
Kickoff: 1400hrs
Result: 1-2 (J.Naprapol [VAN]; S.Smeltz [NZL], D.Mulligan [NZL])
Fiji vs. New Caledonia
At Govind Park,
Ba,
Fiji
Kickoff: 1500hrs
Result: 3-3 (V.Nawatu [FIJ], O.Vakatalesau 2 [FIJ]; R.Jakali [NCL], Naukandre [NCL], Mishell [NCL])
Match Day 4 – November 21st, 2007
New Zealand vs. Vanuatu
At Westpac Trust Stadium
Wellington
New Zealand
Kickoff: 1900hrs
Result: 4-1 (D.Muligan 2 [NZL], S.Smeltz 2 [NZL]; F.Sakama [VAN])
New Caledonia vs. Fiji
Stade Numa Daly
Noumea
New Caledonia
Kickoff: 1900hrs
Result: 4-0 (P.Wajoka [NCL], M.Hmae 2 [NCL], M.Mapou [NCL]