New Zealand 6 - Solomon Islands 1

Photo by Phil Walter

The two group leaders faced off today in rain-drenched Auckland.  Favorites New Zealand were facing Solomon Islands for the third time in four months, with the previous two meetings having been 1-1 and 4-3 to New Zealand.  A Leo Bertos cross twelve minutes in found Shane Smeltz's noggin and bounced into the net for a 1-0 lead to the Kiwis.  Kosta Barbarouses made it two midway through the period when he scored on an open net after a missed tackle by the Bonitos goalkeeper Samson Koti.  The half would end with New Zealand leading 2-0.

Smeltz nearly made it three to the good early in the second half, but his header snapped off the crossbar.  Solomon Islands revived their hopes soon thereafter when Henry Fa'arodo (pictured, yellow) one-timed a low driven cross from Leslie Nate into the Kiwi net.   New Zealand scored two minutes later after a soft headed goal was let in by Koti.  Koti also failed to tip away a cross that lead to New Zealand's fourth goal.  With ten minutes left, a fine Barbarouses cross was chested in by the tall Chris Wood for 5-1.  Koti was again beaten to a ball three minutes later, and his exposed net was soon thereafter breached after a simple slotted ball to the gaping goalmouth was pushed home.  It was a night to forget for Koti and the Bonitos.  New Zealand win 6-1 to take control of the group.

New Zealand 6 pts +7
Solomon Islands 3 pts -3
New Caledonia 0 pts -2
Tahiti 0 pts -2

Goals
New Zealand
Shane Smeltz 12
Kosta Barbarouses 25
Chris Killen 53
Tony Lochhead 69
Chris Wood 80
Marco Rojas 83

Solomon Islands
Henry Fa'arodo 51

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/162ef333-3e19-48f5-b51f-7f2e9de69ea3/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/a7b319bc-5923-488b-9b99-1bb718196286/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awwzl-7jai4&feature=g-all-u