The Dutch were forced to work overtime to earn their ticket to September’s tournament after encountering a tough group that included Russia, Belarus and France, and they were treated to a further taste of the level of beach soccer they will encounter when faced with Tahiti’s national side.
The Tiki Toa took the series with a 5-4 victory on Sunday, 7 April followed by an 8-6 win Monday, 8 April and completed with a resounding 9-3 win Thursday 11 April.
In match one talismanic striker Naea Bennett got the scoring underway for the home side after finding the net with a powerful header. The Dutch were quick to retaliate through their own captain Pierre Tosch bringing them back in line, before Reijer Ran gave them a 2-1 lead.
With neither side looking particularly dominant the Tahitians were fortunate to end the match with a one goal advantage thanks to goals from Tearii Labaste, Heimanu Tearii and a double from Raimana Lee Fung Kuee.
Match two saw the Dutch take the early lead after Leo Koswal nailed a penalty in the eighth minute. However the Tiki Toa were not keen to give their visitors the advantage for long, equalising less than 60 seconds later through Lee Fung Kuee.
Goals to Tainui Lehartel, Patrick Tepa and Raimoana Bennett, combined with doubles from captain Naea Bennett and player-coach Teva Zaveroni had the Dutch playing a catch up, but it was proved too difficult in the end as the match came to an end at 8-6.
The final match in the series had the Dutch playing for pride and once it again it opened in favour of the locals after Angelo Tchen found the back of the net eight minutes in. A goal apiece from Zaveroni and Lee Fung Kuee gave the Tiki Toa a three goal lead before Leo Koswal attempted to build a Netherlands comeback.
However the Tahitians were quick to extend their lead through Naea Bennett and a penalty converted by Angelo Tchen to take them 5-1 up. Before long Bennett had completed his hat-trick and Lee Fung Kuee his brace while Patrick Tepa made it on the score board as well to take their side to nine goals. Patrick Ax tried to spark a comeback for the Dutch with a goal of his own however after goal keeper Frank van der Geest received a red card for a dangerous tackle the four remaining players were left to focus on keeping the home side from extending the lead.
Tahiti coach Angelo Schirinzi says his side played well throughout the series, though the Netherlands came close to unsettling them in the opening match.
“I have never heard that the Netherlands are a bad team, they are of World Cup quality,” Schirinzi says.
“We played well of course, but also I think that the Dutch were a bit tired by the final match. We have noticed that a lot of teams who come here experience problems. The heat and fatigue can come into account.
“However we have worked hard on our combinations in training and it came together well in the final match.”
For Netherlands coach Niels Kokmeijer the series has proven excellent preparation for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
“I think that we played well in the first match, but the second game was very difficult, and this final match the Tahitians were much better than us,” Kokmeijer says.
“Maybe we will encounter the Tahitians again at the Beach Soccer World Cup. We aren’t in our best form at the moment. In any case, this Tahitian team is incredibly strong.”
To see a replay of the Tiki Toa versus the Netherlands click here