OFC Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2012

New Zealand pictured prior to the Men’s Football Group C Match between Egypt at London 2012 Olympic Games at Old Trafford (Photo by Joern Pollex – FIFA via Getty Images)

The seventh edition of the OFC Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament took place in 2012 to decide the OFC representative for the men’s football tournament at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The tournament was hosted by New Zealand, with all matches played at Owen Delany Park in Taupo, and was contested between seven nations. Four teams were drawn into one group, with three placed in the other, with the top two in each progressing to the semi-finals.

Fiji and Vanuatu qualified for the semi-finals from Group A, while hosts New Zealand and Papua New Guinea joined them from Group B. Two goals from Esava Naqeleca propelled Fiji to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Papua New Guinea to qualify for the final, before New Zealand edged Vanuatu 3-2 in the second semi-final, to join them. In a hard-fought affair at Owen Delany Park, New Zealand qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games with a 1-0 win over Fiji in the title decider. A first half penalty goal from Moses Dyer was the difference in the final, as the hosts also claimed their third OFC Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament title.

Hassan Hossam of Egypt and Tim Payne of New Zealand compete for the ball at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Photo by Joern Pollex – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

New Zealand nicknamed the ‘Oly Whites’ lost their opening game of the men’s football tournament at the London Olympics. Up against Belarus, they had the better of the first period but conceded a goal on the stroke of halftime and couldn’t find a way back in, going down 1-0. They kept their Olympic hopes alive by securing a 1-1 draw against Egypt at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Egypt dominated possession, but New Zealand scored first, after 17 minutes. A Michael McGlinchey corner was flicked on by Tommy Smith to Chris Wood, who duly slotted it. Egypt came back just before halftime to equalise through the dangerous Mohamed Salah. The New Zealand defence held firm throughout an entertaining second half, but scoring chances were relatively rare.

The Oly Whites were an outside chance of reaching the quarterfinals stage, needing to defeat the star-studded Brazilian side and have other results go their way. But the New Zealanders were outclassed at St James’ Park in Newcastle with Brazil securing a 3-0 victory.