OFC Futsal Championship 2011

Players and team members of Solomom Islands celebrate in the locker room after winning the FIFA Futsal World Cup Group F match between Solomon Islands and Guatemala at Indoor Stadium Huamark on November 9, 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Lars Baron – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The eighth edition of the OFC Futsal Championship took place in 2011 with the winner also qualifying for the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup™ in Thailand. It was held in Suva, Fiji for the fourth year in a row and was contested between eight nations for the first time in competition history. The format involved two groups of four, with the top two in each group progressing to the final. Hosts Fiji were drawn alongside New Zealand, Vanuatu, and Kiribati in Group A, whilst three-time defending champions the Solomon Islands were joined by Tahiti, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu in Group B.

Three-time runners-up Fiji got Group A underway with a thrilling 4-all draw against New Zealand, but suffered a sucker punch when they were beaten 5-2 by Vanuatu in their second fixture. A massive 22-3 victory over Kiribati on the final day of play kept them in with a chance of progressing to the final four. However, New Zealand’s 6-4 win over Vanuatu sealed Fiji’s exit at the group stage. New Zealand topped the group with an unbeaten record, whilst Vanuatu joined them in the final four.

Pavel Suchilin of Russia tries to tackle Micah Leaalafa of Solomon Islands during the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand 2012, Group F match between Russia and Solomon Islands at Nimibutr Stadium on November 3, 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Ian Walton – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Group play proved a walk in the park for the Solomon Islands, who scored ten goals in each of their three matches to secure top spot in Group B with a 100% record. The three-time defending champions smallest winning margin was a 13-5 win over New Caledonia on matchday two. Tahiti and New Caledonia drew their encounter 2-2 in the race for second, meaning the final semi-final spot would be decided by the margin of their victories against Tuvalu. Tahiti defeated Tuvalu 6-0, whilst New Caledonia picked up an 11-1 win, ensuring the latter progressed in second spot with a superior goal difference.

The first semi-final was a dramatic affair, with Tahiti overcoming New Zealand 4-3 in a penalty shootout to qualify for their first OFC Futsal Championship final after finishing 3-all in extra-time. The Solomon Islands had no issue in joining them, scoring over ten goals for the fourth game in a row, with a big 13-1 victory over Vanuatu in the second semi-final.

Micah Leaalafa of Solomon Islands celebrates after scoring his teams third goal during the FIFA Futsal World Cup Group F match between Solomon Islands and Guatemala at Indoor Stadium Huamark on November 9, 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Lars Baron – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The best match of the tournament was saved for last, as the Solomon Islands claimed their fourth successive OFC Futsal Championship title with a gripping 6-4 victory over Tahiti in the final at Vodafone Arena in Suva. As they had done in previous editions, Elliot Ragomo and Jack Wetney combined for all six goals as the Solomon Islands qualified for their second FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand. Elsewhere, New Zealand made amends for their penalty shootout defeat in the semi-finals with a victory over Vanuatu by the same method in the third place play-off.

Despite suffering heavy defeats to Russia and Colombia, the Solomon Islands became just the second OFC nation to win a match at the FIFA Futsal World Cup™ with a 4-3 victory over Guatemala in their final group match of the 2012 edition in Thailand.