New Zealand 2 - Solomon Islands 0; New Caledonia 1 - Tahiti 0

Honiara was the site of the Solomon Islands final match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup as they welcomed a nearly unrecognizable New Zealand to town.  New Zealand were playing with a young squad and only three men available on the bench, all the better to ensure their first-team starters did not pick up yellow-card suspensions ahead of their intercontinental playoff against a team from CONCACAF in November.  Teenager Tim Payne (pictured) struck a rocket from twenty-five yards that put the All Whites up 1-0 on the road in the third minute.  Just before the half, Kosta Barbarouses grazed the crossbar with a shot, but the scoreboard was unmoved.  New Zealand led 1-0 at intermission.

Midway through the period, Payne nearly doubled his tally, but Solomon Islands goalkeeper Samson Koti made a nice save to deny him.  Koti denied Barbarouses with two minutes left in the match, but Payne was there to clean up the mess and score his second of the afternoon.  New Zealand win 2-0 and await an opponent in seven months' time.

New Caledonia welcomed Tahiti to Noumea in both teams' final qualifier of the cycle.  Les Cagous looked the stronger side all half long, but the home side were unable to turn the constant pressure into a goal.  The first half ended scoreless.

The second half was less exciting, but New Caledonia can be proud to say they surrendered nary an opportunity to a Tahiti side headed to the FIFA Confederations Cup in June.  With five minutes left, Cesar Loholea struck a fine volley to score the winner for New Caledonia.  New Caledonia win 1-0 to sweep the two games in the OFC Third Round against Tahiti after having lost both encounters at the 2012 OFC Nations Cup.

Goals
New Zealand
Tim Payne 3, 88

New Caledonia
Cesar Loholea 86

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/366f3561-8b60-46ae-bf68-2bd6f9c129f4/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/c2100113-c4bd-467a-990d-aed75b9cde52/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/103337d0-73d3-4267-ac0c-51c4117448cd/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10873836