OFC Futsal Championship 2013

 

Australia celebrate winning the OFC Futsal Championship Invitational 2013, Grand Final, Malaysia v Australia, The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday 27th July 2013. Photo: Shane Wenzlick

The ninth edition of the OFC Futsal Championship took place in 2013 and was hosted at the Trusts Arena in Auckland, NewZealand. It was contested between eight teams, including invitational nations Malaysia, and four-time former champions Australia from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), as well as a New Zealand invitational side. The tournament also broke the event’s annual pattern, with the last edition held two years prior in 2011.

It followed the same format as that competition though, with two groups of four and the top two sides in each group progressing to the semi-finals. Hosts New Zealand were joined by four-time defending champions the Solomon Islands, Malaysia, and New Caledonia in Group A, whilst former champions Australia were drawn in Group B alongside Vanuatu, Tahiti, and a New Zealand invitational side.

Solomon’s Micah Lea’alafa. OFC Futsal Championship Invitational 2013, Match Day One, Solomon Islands v New Zealand, The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand, Tuesday 23rd July 2013. Photo: Shane Wenzlick

The Solomon Islands got off to a rocky start in Group A, suffering a 7-3 defeat to New Zealand after having been so used to dominating the competition in previous years. They kept their campaign alive with a 7-4 victory over New Caledonia, but it came to a shock end at the group stage with a 4-1 loss to Malaysia in their final group fixture. A big 7-1 win over New Zealand secured top spot for Malaysia, whilst the hosts joined them in the semi-finals after finishing second.

Australia last competed in the OFC Futsal Championship in 2004 and they picked up where they left off in Group B. Having never been beaten in 21 previous matches in the competition, that run continued with group victories over Vanuatu, Tahiti, and a New Zealand invitational side. Three wins from three secured top spot for Australia, while Tahiti finished runners-up in the group after a decisive 5-3 win over Vanuatu in their opening fixture.

Malaysia pipped Tahiti 4-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in extra-time to reach the final, while Australia made it an all-AFC affair with a 2-0 victory over Trans-Tasman rivals and hosts New Zealand in the second semi-final.

Australia’s Daniel Fogarty is tackled by Malaysia keeper Firdaus Razali. OFC Futsal Championship Invitational 2013, Grand Final, Malaysia v Australia, The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday 27th July 2013. Photo: Shane Wenzlick

Despite now being an AFC member, Australia secured their first OFC Futsal Championship title since 2004, and fifth overall, with a 5-1 victory over Malaysia in the final at Trusts Arena in Auckland. Toby Seeto was the star of the show with a hat-trick, extending Australia’s unbeaten run in the competition to 26 matches since the inaugural edition in 1992. Seeto collected the golden ball for the best player of the tournament, while teammate Angelo Konstantinou received the golden glove, New Zealand rising star Dylan Manickum was awarded the golden boot with eight goals.