Mexico 4 - New Zealand 2

Photo by Hannah Johnston

Mexico made the long trek southwest to Wellington for the second leg of their intercontinental playoff series.  New Zealand were hoping the home field advantage would allowed them to overcome a 5-1 deficit.  Mexico midfielder Carlos Peña had other plans.  He fired a warning shot from distance early that forced New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss into a tough save.  Then, Peña opened up the Kiwi defense with a pass up the middle to a streaking Oribe Peralta.  Peralta beat Tommy Smith to the spot and then chipped over an oncoming Moss for a 1-0 lead.  Peña slotted yet another through ball through the defense, but Raul Jimenez took a weak shot, allowing Moss to make the save behind his momentum.  Jeremy Brockie (pictured, white #16) had a chance to equalize, but Mexico goalkeeper Moises Muñoz angled him wide and then blocked his shot.  Peña again provided the impetus for a Mexican goal.  Peña pushed a through ball behind three New Zealand defenders. Miguel Layun (pictured, green #7) received the ball wide left and then rolled a fast pass across the box to Peralta for a tap-in goal and a 2-0 lead.  Soon thereafter, Peña got the assist himself after receiving a through ball from Jimenez.  Peña passed across the box to Peralta for another tap-in finish to complete a hat trick.  Peña, again, sliced a pass through the Kiwi defense.  On a one-two-one, Jimenez passed to Peña, who then backheeled a through ball to Jimenez.  Jimenez beat Moss but his chip at goal was saved off the line by Smith.  Soon thereafter, a through ball from Marco Rojas (pictured, white, left) had Brockie in on goal, but he was dripped by Muñoz in the box.  Muñoz made up for the foul by stuffing Brockie on the resulting penalty kick.  Mexico took their 3-0 lead into the break.

Peralta could have shot at an open net when Moss came out of the box to attempt a slide tackle, but Peralta took too long to shoot and Andrew Durante blocked his shot.  Mexico were rather subdued during the second half, and New Zealand began to gain periods of possession.  Kiwi appeals for a handball were turned away, but they did draw a second penalty of the match with ten minutes to go.  This time, they converted, and they pulled within two goals.  Nexico by this time had already gone asleep.  A run from Kosta Barbarouses put Mexico under pressure in their own box.  Brockie saved the ball off the end line to pass to Barbarouses.  Barbarouses first-timed a cross that was played across the momentum of Muñoz by Rory Fallon for the hosts' second goal of the match.  Just as New Zealand were feeling confident of tying the match, Mexico scored a fourth.  Peña provided the finishing touch as a slow roller through the New Zealand box somehow avoided many sets of legs.  Mexico win the match 4-2 and the aggregate series 9-3 in order to qualify for Brasil 2014.  New Zealand are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
 
Goals
Mexico
Oribe Peralta 14, 29, 33
Carlos Peña 86

New Zealand
Chris James 80 PK
Rory Fallon 82

Match Reports:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/new-zealand-2-mexico-4-match-report-first-half-hattrick-from-oribe-peralta-takes-mexico-through-to-world-cup-2014-8951150.html
http://www.mlssoccer.com/worldcup/2014/news/article/2013/11/20/new-zealand-2-mexico-4-world-cup-qualifying-match-recap
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/long-road-mexico-qualifies-for-6th-straight-world-cup-with-4-2-win-at-new-zealand/2013/11/20/451adbbe-51fc-11e3-9ee6-2580086d8254_story.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2226820/index.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQBswQeZxt8

Mexico 5 - New Zealand 1

Photo by Alfredo Estrella

Mexico were hoping to right their foundering campaign at home in Mexico City.  New Zealand were in town for the first leg of their intercontinental playoff series.  Mexico called up a squad completely comprised of locally-based players with a heavy reliance on Club America players.  Club America share the Estadio Azteca with the national side.  Mexico came close to breaking through the five-man backline on the quarter hour mark, but Oribe Peralta could not head Miguel Layun's cross on target.  Soon thereafter, another Layun cross led to a dangerous series of headers in the box that ended with New Zealand goalkeeper Glen Moss punching a header from Raul Jimenez off the line.  A long-distance knuckle ball from Mexico centerback Francisco Rodriguez nearly caught Moss unaware, but Moss was able to punch the ball off the crossbar and out for a corner kick.  On a long through ball, Jimenez was in on goal, but after angling his run, he could only manage to blast a shot into the arms and chest of Moss.  Mexico were dominant with over three-fourths of the possession.  A misplay from Moss led to the opening goal for Mexico.  Moss was too quick to come off his line even though his teammate Andrew Durante had the header clearance covered.  Moss crashed through the back of Durante, and the resulting weak header was pushed into the vacant goal by Paul Aguilar.  An audacious Jimenez airborne backheel flick forced a diving save out of Moss.  Off the resulting corner, Carlos Peña was completely unmarked in the box, so he headed down into the ground, and Jimenez was able to win the header inside the six-yard box to score the second goal for the hosts.

The lone striker for the Kiwis Chris Wood came close to hitting the top corner shortly after coming out of the locker room.  However, Mexico were the side to score early in the second period.  A long ball wide from Rafa Marquez landed at Layun's feet.  Layun rolled a ball into the box behind Ivan Vicelich to a wide open Oribe Peralta for the tap-in goal.  A medium-range free kick taken by Marquez was heading in at the far post before Moss made a diving save out for another Mexican corner.  With ten minutes left in regular time, Layun clinched his man-of-the-match award.  Again, a long ball across the field from Marquez landed at Layun's feet.  Layun crossed into the box perfectly to set up Peralta for a snap header goal.  This was a second assist from Layun's weaker left foot.  A corner kick led to another header opportunity that was buried by captain Marquez as the home side again destroyed the zonal marking system of the Kiwis.  Within one minute, New Zealand found a goal.  Rory Fallon won a contested header in the Mexican box and the second ball fell to Chris James, who hit a volley in off the post that just barely trickled over the line.  Moss had to make yet another long-distance save as Jimenez burned Vicelich off the dribble and decided to have a go.  Mexico win 5-1 and will be facing a very short-handed New Zealand side away in one week's time.  Perhaps New Zealand will be able to correct their poor marking on set pieces during the week off.

New Zealand lose their starting forward Wood, winger Leo Bertos, and centerback Ivan Vicelich for the second leg due to yellow card accumulation throughout qualifying. 

Goals
Mexico
Paul Aguilar 32
Raul Jimenez 40
Oribe Peralta 48, 80
Rafael Marquez 84

New Zealand
Chris James 85

Match Reports:
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1615578/mexico-blisters-new-zealand-5-1-wcup-playoff?cc=5901
http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/11/13/5101184/mexico-vs-new-zealand-2014-world-cup-qualifying-playoffs-final-score-report

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN9hfuaRUgs

Preview: Intercontinental Playoffs

The intercontinental playoffs are a rare treat in the world of international football.  These two series are the only four matches in a four-year period that feature competitive matches between teams from different confederations that do not take place in a neutral host country.  The FIFA Confederations Cup, the FIFA World Cup, and even the Olympics all take place at neutral sites.  Qualifying matches for continental finals and for the FIFA World Cup take place before partisan crowds, but they feature matches among teams from the same confederation.  Only the intercontinental playoffs provide fans the chance to show partisan support for their home teams as they take on unfamiliar foes from other regions of the world.

Due to the long distances between Amman and Montevideo, and Mexico City and Wellington, these series take place over an eight-day period rather than the more typical five-day period offered by the international matchday windows.  This is to compensate for long travel times and to allow for better acclimatization as the teams explore different parts of the Earth.

Mexico are the negative surprise package of the bunch.  Few would have predicted that the team seeded first in North America at the start of the tournament would finish as low as fourth position.  Even more surprising was the fact the Mexico were a mere three minutes from being eliminated in fifth position before the United States of America turned around their final qualifier against Panama in the final moments to deny Panama a berth in these intercontinental playoffs.  Mexico have just switched to their fourth different coach since September.  In fact, no foreign-based players have been called up by the new coach due to the lack of good performances in qualifying produced by the European-based stars of El Tri.  Even the formerly mystical home field advantage of the Estadio Azteca has been shredded by a run of only one victory from five home qualifiers in 2013.  However, the all-local side did defeat Finland in a recent friendly.  They also are somewhat familiar with New Zealand, having played and won two friendlies against the Kiwis in the past four years.  The big question for Mexico is whether their inexperienced midfield can hold up over the two legs of this tie.  Only one midfielder on the roster has even ten caps.

New Zealand are the obvious participant in this round as few expected any other Oceania side to truly push New Zealand for superiority in qualifying.  Now, after eight months without playing a competitive match since finishing the Oceania campaign in March, the Kiwis finally get to face the pressure of a match that counts.  In 2009, New Zealand were able to hold Bahrain away before securing a classic 1-0 victory at home in the Westpac Stadium.  Unfortunately, New Zealand are missing stalwart captain and fullback Winston Reid due to injury, so they will have to make up for his absence.  With only six matches played this year, are the players familiar enough with each other to overcome Mexico?  New Zealand did defeat Saudi Arabia away two months ago.  With a roster full of A-League players along with England-based Tommy Smith and Chris Wood, the Kiwis will be looking to stay solid defensively on the road in the first leg.

Jordan are the positive surprise package of the bunch.  Few would have predicted that the team seeded thirteenth in Asia at the start of the tournament would finish in fifth position.  It was even a bit of a surprise to some that Jordan made it into the final ten given that they were in an AFC Third Round group with China and Iraq with only two tickets available to the final round.  Jordan have navigated through eighteen fixtures so far, including a pair of home-and-away aggregate-goals series such as the one they now face against Uruguay.  Jordan have won penalty shootouts in each of the past two FIFA World Cups, defeating Kyrgyzstan in 2007 and Uzbekistan in 2013 to qualify for these intercontinental playoffs.  No expectations will be weighing upon the Jordanians as they take on 2011 Copa America champions Uruguay.  Nearly the entire roster plays its club football in either Jordan or Kuwait.  Jordan have been impressive in two recent friendlies in the Middle East, defeating both the 2012 and 2013 African Cup of Nations champions by a score of 1-0.  Zambia and Nigeria may not quite match up to the standards of Uruguay, but Jordan are in good form at the moment.  They are unbeaten in their past ten matches, and have a record of ten wins and three draws at home in 2013.

Uruguay are the perennial qualifying underachievers of South America, but at least they are consistent in their bid to finish fifth place every cycle.  Two of Colombia, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Chile manage to finish ahead of Uruguay alongside Argentina and Brasil, yet Uruguay always manage to stay ahead of the other two in order to claim fifth position.  This time around with Brazil not taking part in qualifying, Uruguay managed only to surpass Paraguay, but that was enough.  La Celeste have a ridiculously long history with the intercontinental playoffs.  In 2001, Uruguay defeated Australia.  In 2005, Australia beat Uruguay in a penalty shootout.  In 2009, Uruguay defeated Costa Rica despite not winning their home leg at the Estadio Centenario.  Jordan appear to be the weakest of the four opponents Uruguay will have faced, but nothing should be taken for granted.  La Celeste's run to the semifinals of this year's FIFA Confederations Cup has really reinvigorated the national team.  Still, for a team that since June has defeated France, Venezuela, Nigeria, Japan, Peru, Colombia, and Argentina, underestimation of their opponents Jordan is the likeliest source of trouble.  Starting goalkeeper Fernando Muslera is out for this series.

Going by the ELO ratings, #24 Mexico are favorites to knock off #56 New Zealand for spot number thirty-one at Brasil 2014 while #7 Uruguay are huge favorites to knock off #59 Jordan and claim spot number thirty-two at Brasil 2014.  I expect those rankings to hold true.

Mexico will win their first leg at home by multiple goals.  Even if New Zealand manage to win at home, they will not win on aggregate.  Uruguay are simply too strong right now and will win both legs in order to claim not only the final berth at Brasil 2014 but also a place among the eight seeded teams.

Match Previews:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2222779/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_box_1
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2222441/index.html

Match Schedule: November 2013

November 2013 marks the end of the long journey that is FIFA World Cup qualifying for Brasil 2014.  The cycle began in Trinidad and Tobago back on 15 June 2011 and will end on 20 November 2013 in Uruguay.  This month, the remaining twenty-two teams across all six confederations will be whittled down to the final eleven qualifiers with the other eleven sides suffering elimination at the final hurdle.  Four qualifications and four eliminations will come out of the playoffs in Europe.  Five qualifications and five eliminations will come out of the second legs of the final round in Africa.  The final two qualifications and two eliminations will take place on the final day of qualifying in the two intercontinental playoff series.  The seventeen matches this month will see the field of thirty-two nations finally reveal itself in its entirety ahead of the final draw in December.

All times are given in Central Time (GMT-6).

13 November 2013
Uruguay at Jordan 9:00 Amman
New Zealand at Mexico 14:30 Mexico City

15 November 2013
Croatia at Iceland 13:00 Reykjavik
France at Ukraine 13:45 Kiev
Romania at Greece 13:45 Piraeus
Sweden at Portugal 13:45 Lisbon

16 November 2013
Ethiopia at Nigeria 9:00 Calabar
Cote d'Ivoire at Senegal 12:00 Casablanca, Morocco

17 November 2013
Tunisia at Cameroon 8:30 Yaoundé

19 November 2013
Ghana at Egypt 10:00 Cairo
Burkina Faso at Algeria 12:15 Blida
Greece at Romania 13:00 Bucharest
Ukraine at France 13:00 Saint-Denis
Iceland at Croatia 13:15 Zagreb
Portugal at Sweden 13:45 Solna

20 November 2013
Mexico at New Zealand 00:00 Wellington
Jordan at Uruguay 17:00 Montevideo

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

Tahiti 2 - Solomon Islands 0

Pirae was the site as already-eliminated Tahiti hosted already-eliminated Solomon Islands in Tahiti's final home match of Brasil 2014.  The home side were looking to earn their first points of the OFC Third Round, and a free kick goal from Heimano Bourebare provided them with the opener a couple minutes before the half-hour mark.  The difficult task for Solomon Islands was made all the more difficult by the fact that they traveled with only thirteen players to the match, only two of whom had been previously capped.  Steevy Chong Hue had two chances to extend the lead before the break, but he was unable to do so.  Tahiti led 1-0 at the break.

With twenty minutes to goal, Solomon goalkeeper Sammy Osso made a nice save to deny Yannick Vero, but a dozen minutes later Tahiti captain Nicolas Vallar scored from a long-range effort to finally put the game out of reach and give Tahiti reason to celebrate for the first time in round three of qualifying.  Tahiti win 2-0.

Goals:
Tahiti
Heimano Bourebare 28
Nicolas Vallar 82

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/567173df-e53f-4fc9-89e0-9a97bf06fbdc/language/en-US/Default.aspx

New Zealand 2 - New Caledonia 1

Photo by Teaukura Moetaua

Dunedin was the site of the effective deciding match of the OFC Third Round. If New Zealand could defeat New Caledonia at home, then New Zealand would clinch the OFC berth in the intercontinental playoffs. However, if New Caledonia were to win, they would be level on points with New Zealand, but the Caledonians would have the edge on goal differential. A draw would leave New Zealand needing a point in the last round to clinch advancement.  New Zealand looked like winning after an early corner kick resulted in a header from six yards that was nodded home by Chris Killen.  New Zealand held that 1-0 lead and the Oceania intercontinental playoff berth going into the break.

Ten minutes after the restart, Les Cagous were on level terms.  A long, floated ball from Georges Gope-Fenepej was chested by Cesar Loholea in the Kiwi penalty area, and the ball dropped perfectly to Loholea for a volleyed finish.  With one minute remaining in regulation, a high boot from Joel Wakanumune cut open Shane Smeltz's head, leaving the All Whites striker on the ground bleeding.  The referee chose not to mark the foul (or produce a card), which would have resulted in a penalty.  New Zealand would have their revenge in stoppage time, however, as a looping header from Tommy Smith on a jump ball found its parabolic path over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.  With the 2-1 victory, New Zealand win the OFC intercontinental playoff berth and New Caledonia are eliminated.

New Zealand 15 pts IN
New Caledonia OUT
Solomon Islands OUT
Tahiti OUT

Goals:
New Zealand
Chris Killen 10
Tommy Smith 90+4

New Caledonia
Cesar Loholea 56

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/db55c249-3fca-40e6-ad51-a07a842615bb/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2040074/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_box_2
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/0f7326a9-7b9c-44c8-96fc-eecbb5e5dae1/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Luz_aYWe-us

Match Schedule: March 2013

The OFC Third Round comes to its conclusion this month with either New Zealand or New Caledonia claiming a spot in the intercontinental playoffs.  In Asia, Japan are looking to become the first team to qualify for Brasil 2014 with a victory against Jordan.  Matchdays Two and Three take place in the CONCACAF Fourth Round, while in CONMEBOL Matchdays Eleven and Twelve take the tournament to two-thirds completion.  The CAF Second Round makes it to its halfway point with Matchday Three.  UEFA continues its journey toward Brasil with a double date of matches that will take most European teams past the midway point of their qualification cycles.

All times are given in Central Time (GMT-5).

22 March 2013
New Caledonia at New Zealand 1:35 Dunedin
Portugal at Israel 7:45 Ramat Gan
Malta at Bulgaria 11:00 Sofia
Serbia at Croatia 12:00 Zagreb
Iceland at Slovenia 12:00 Ljubljana
Turkey at Andorra 12:15 Andorra la Vella
Germany at Kazakhstan 13:00 Astana
Albania at Norway 13:00 Oslo
Latvia at Liechtenstein 13:30 Vaduz
Lithuania at Slovakia 14:10 Zilina
Azerbaijan at Luxembourg 14:15 Luxembourg
Montenegro at Moldova 14:30 Chisinau
Romania at Hungary 14:30 Budapest
Denmark at Czech Republic 14:30 Olomouc
Faroe Islands at Austria 14:30 Vienna
Estonia at Netherlands 14:30 Amsterdam
Ukraine at Poland 14:45 Warsaw
Belgium at Macedonia 14:45 Skopje
Greece at Bosnia and Herzegovina 14:45 Zenica
Ireland at Sweden 14:45 Solna
Finland at Spain 14:45 Gijon
Russia at Northern Ireland 14:45 Belfast
England at San Marino 15:00 Serravalle
Georgia at France 15:00 Saint-Denis
Wales at Scotland 15:00 Glasgow
Bolivia at Colombia 15:00 Barranquilla
Mexico at Honduras 16:00 San Pedro Sula
Paraguay at Uruguay 17:00 Montevideo
Venezuela at Argentina 19:00 Buenos Aires
Chile at Peru 19:15 Lima
Panama at Jamaica 20:30 Kingston
Costa Rica at United States of America 21:11 Commerce City
Solomon Islands at Tahiti 1:00 (23 March) Pirae

23 March 2013
Togo at Cameroon 9:30 Yaounde
Gabon at Congo 9:30 Pointe-Noire
Malawi at Namibia 10:00 Windhoek
Kenya at Nigeria 10:00 Calabar
Gambia at Cote d'Ivoire 12:00 Abidjan
Angola at Senegal 12:00 Conakry, Guinea
Niger at Burkina Faso 13:00 Ouagadougou
Sierra Leone at Tunisia 13:00 Rades
Central African Republic at South Africa 13:15 Cape Town
Switzerland at Cyprus 13:30 Nicosia

24 March 2013
Morocco at Tanzania 7:00 Dar Es Salaam
Botswana at Ethiopia 8:00 Addis Ababa
Guinea at Mozambique 8:00 Maputo
Zambia at Lesotho 8:00 Maseru
Mali at Rwanda 8:30 Kigali
Libya at Democratic Republic of Congo 9:30 Kinshasa
Cape Verde at Equatorial Guinea 11:00 Malabo
Sudan at Ghana 11:00 Kumasi
Uganda at Liberia 11:00 Paynesville

26 March 2013
New Zealand at Solomon Islands 23:00 (25 March) Honiara
Tahiti at New Caledonia 2:00 Noumea
Oman at Australia 3:30 Sydney
Qatar at South Korea 6:00 Seoul
Lebanon at Uzbekistan 8:00 Tashkent
Japan at Jordan 9:00 Amman
Czech Republic at Armenia 11:00 Yerevan
Portugal at Azerbaijan 12:00 Baku
Andorra at Estonia 12:00 Tallinn
Zimbabwe at Egypt 12:00 Alexandria
Hungary at Turkey 13:30 Istanbul
Moldova at Ukraine 14:00 Odessa
Bulgaria at Denmark 14:15 Copenhagen
Scotland at Serbia 14:30 Novi Sad
Romania at Netherlands 14:30 Amsterdam
Benin at Algeria 14:30 Blida
San Marino at Poland 14:45 Warsaw
Kazakhstan at Germany 14:45 Nuremberg
Macedonia at Belgium 14:45 Brussels
Italy at Malta 14:45 Ta'Qali
Croatia at Wales 14:45 Swansea
Israel at Northern Ireland 14:45 Belfast
Austria at Ireland 14:45 Dublin
England at Montenegro 15:00 Podgorica
Spain at France 15:00 Saint-Denis
Argentina at Bolivia 15:00 La Paz
Paraguay at Ecuador 16:00 Quito
Colombia at Venezuela 18:30 Puerto Ordaz
Uruguay at Chile 19:30 Santiago
Jamaica at Costa Rica 21:00 San Jose
Honduras at Panama 21:00 Panama City
United States of America at Mexico 21:30 Mexico City

New Zealand 3 - Tahiti 0; New Caledonia 5 - Solomon Islands 0

Photo by Martin Hunter

Christchurch was the scene as hosts New Zealand were looking for a win that would eliminate visiting Tahiti from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  A nervy start from Tahiti saw a couple of poor passes at the back lead to a turnover that gave the All Whites an opening chance.  Chris Killen's initial shot was blocked, but Michael McGlinchey finished far post from the half circle, putting New Zealand up a goal within three minutes.  The half ended with the hosts up 1-0.

The second period continued the trend of few attacking possibilities. Only in the final minute of regulation did the scoreline change again. A Kosta Barbarouses (pictured, white) shot was spilled by Tahiti goalkeeper Mikael Roche, and Killen was there to tap home the rebound immediately over the offside protests of the Tahitian defenders.  In stoppage time, a long rebound off a good save rolled out to McGlinchey who floated a curling ball from the half circle into the upper ninety for the finishing touch.  New Zealand win 3-0 to remain top of the group, and in the process Tahiti have been eliminated from Brasil 2014.

With the earlier result in New Zealand, Solomon Islands knew that anything less than a win would eliminate them from Brasil 2014.  Their hosts New Caledonia were none too sympathetic, and they did not provide very much hospitality in Noumea.  A throw-in at the five-minute mark led to a break down the right flank by Bertrand Kai, who hit a cross to George Gope-Fenepej.  Gope-Fenepej headed in before the goalkeeper could touch the ball away, giving Les Cagous a 1-0 lead.  It took only seven minutes for New Caledonia to find the second, with Roy Kayara making a solo run through the middle of the defense, shaking the two center backs with a juke, and dribbling around the goalkeeper before finishing into an open net.  On the half hour mark, Les Cagous found through a wonder strike from Iamel Kabeu.  The ball had fallen loose after a blocked shot twenty-five yards from goal, so the oncoming Kabeu fired first-time off the bottom of the crossbar in the upper ninety.  On the stroke of halftime, Cesar Loholea made it four with a chip goal from eighteen yards over a caught-out goalkeeper.  Les Cagous took the 4-0 lead into the break.

The majority of the second half saw little action.  Georges Bearune, a late substitute for Les Cagous, made a long cross that floated over the Bonitos' back line and into the airspace of Loholea, who volleyed the cross into the goal from sixteen yards to finish the scoring.  New Caledonia win 5-0 to eliminate the Solomon Islands from Brasil 2014.  New Caledonia next play New Zealand in March in a match that may very well decide the group championship.

New Zealand 12 pts +12
New Caledonia 9 pts +11
Solomon Islands OUT
Tahiti OUT

Goals
New Zealand
Michael McGlinchey 3, 90+4
Chris Killen 90

New Caledonia
Georges Gope-Fenepej 5
Roy Kayara 12
Iamel Kabeu 31
Cesar Loholea 45, 90

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/415784f3-4589-48aa-aeee-411d0a0422e5/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/7823580/All-Whites-too-good-for-Tahiti
http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/football/230666/football-all-whites-take-scrappy-win-over-tahiti
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/0b0b60d7-0622-4686-80b6-16932e895f67/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/785bf075-52ef-438a-aba9-56ce291dd8e9/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T-mwC4_3X4 (New Zealand v. Tahiti)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLppeCJxm0k&feature=g-all-u (New Caledonia v. Solomon Islands)

New Zealand 2 - Tahiti 0

Photo by Federation Tahitienne de Football employee

Tahiti kicked off their home match in Pirae against New Zealand twenty-six hours after the other OFC Third Round Matchday Three match but on the same date.  Such occurrences only are seen in Oceania, where the International Date Line plays tricks with the schedule.  Tahiti were showing good skill on the ball, but as always the no-nonsense Kiwis were nonplussed.  A free kick for the Kiwis turned into a mad scramble in the box.  Following an initial save, the rebound happened to spill to the far post for a Shane Smeltz tap-in and a New Zealand lead.  The halftime score was 1-0 to the visitors.

In the second period, a Leo Bertos blocked shot a Tahiti shot to preserve the lead.  Later, striker Chris Wood shook Angelo Tchen and fought off a second Tahiti defender before blowing his shot well over the crossbar.  With under ten minutes to play, New Zealand turned a corner kick into 2-0 when Tony Lochhead's ball was volleyed goalward by Ben Sigmund.  Tchen stuck his foot out but only managed to turn the ball into the side net, angering his goalkeeper who may have been able to save had Tchen not interfered.  New Zealand win 2-0 to regain the lead in the OFC Third Round group.  The return match between Tahiti and the Kiwis will take place in four days' time on the calendar, but in three days' time in reality as the scene shifts forward a day.  Anything short of a win for Tahiti and they will be eliminated from Brasil 2014.

New Zealand 9 pts +9
New Caledonia 6 pts +6
Solomon Islands 3 pts -7
Tahiti 0 pts -8

Goals
New Zealand
Shane Smeltz 24
Ben Sigmund 82

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/4c05d9b8-e59c-46f8-ae29-c6f6fbde893f/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/7fe19fa5-1ea4-46ae-9356-ff3bd0622f01/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JmP7VARXW8&feature=g-all-u

New Caledonia 6 - Solomon Islands 2

Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, the site of fifteen matches in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, hosted its fourteenth match today as the host Solomon Islands faced off against New Caledonia in the first of two matches between the sides over a five-day period.  Both teams knew coming in that the full six points from the two matches would be necessary in order to keep up with New Zealand in the OFC Third Round.  The rain threw in an extra wrinkle for the teams to navigate.  The visitors appeared to be better sailors in the early going as star Georges Gope-Fenepej sailed a cross from the left flank onto the foot of Roy Kayara for a volleyed finish and a 1-0 lead.  The Bonitos settled themselves after conceded and were about to equalize twenty-five minutes on after Joses Nawa cross from the right flank was met by the head of Tutizama Tanito, who headed home off a bounce for 1-1.  In the final minute of the half, a long lofted pass came to the feet of Bertrand Kai who then fired a cross into the box.  Meanwhile, his teammate Gope-Fenepej had broken an offside trap.  The cross met Gope-Fenepej's unmarked head in the box, and the result was a 2-1 New Caledonia lead at the half.

It took fifteen minutes for the response, but a Seni Ngava long cross found Nawa in the box.  Nawa took advantage of the goalkeeper having come off his line as Nawa looped a header softly under the crossbar for the equalizer.  However, with a dozen minutes left, the bottom dropped out of the Bonitos' ship.  Gope-Fenepej caused a freak own goal when he blocked a clearance that went off the head of a defender.  Three minutes later, a Kai through ball lead to a ball passed across the box where Gope-Fenepej was waiting for the unmarked finish.  With two minutes to go, Jacques Haeko did it himself, beating the Bonitos up the left side of the pitch and deftly chipping the goalkeeper from ten yards for 5-2.  In stoppage time, Haeko nearly had a second as he broke through the right side of the pitch, but he sent his shot wide of the far post.  Luckily for him, Gope-Fenepej made a long run and was there to tap-in the miss.  New Caledonia win 6-2 and return home to face Solomon Islands on Tuesday.

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

Goals
New Caledonia
Roy Kayara 8
Georges Gope-Fenepej 45, 81, 90+1
Tome Faisi 78 OG
Jacques Haeko 88

Solomon Islands
Tutizama Tanito 33
Joses Nawa 59

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/f37cc276-90c4-4a9e-8610-414c3b040388/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://boxscorenews.com/les-cagous-emerge-as-major-world-cup-qualifying-contenders-p49179-68.htm

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

Match Schedule: October 2012

The month of October 12 will see five teams in CONCACAF eliminated from Brasil 2014.  The AFC Fourth Round will make it to its halfway point, as will the CONMEBOL single group phase, and the OFC Third Round.  In OFC, Tahiti will be looking to avoid an early elimination this month.  UEFA Match Days Three and Four will start to clear up the picture in Europe.

All match times are given in Central Time (GMT-5).

12 October 2012
New Caledonia at Solomon Islands 23:00 (11 October) Honiara
Portugal at Russia 10:00 Moscow
Georgia at Finland 10:30 Helsinki
Austria at Kazakhstan 11:00 Astana
Italy at Armenia 11:00 Yerevan
Sweden at Faroe Islands 11:00 Torshavn
Iceland at Albania 12:00 Tirana
Romania at Turkey 12:30 Istanbul
Lithuania at Liechtenstein 12:30 Vaduz
Spain at Belarus 13:00 Minsk
Ukraine at Moldova 13:00 Chisinau
Denmark at Bulgaria 13:00 Sofia
Malta at Czech Republic 13:00 Plzen
Latvia at Slovakia 13:15 Bratislava
Germany at Ireland 13:15 Dublin
Hungary at Estonia 13:30 Tallinn
Croatia at Macedonia 13:30 Skopje
Belgium at Serbia 13:30 Belgrade
Norway at Switzerland 13:30 Bern
Andorra at Netherlands 13:30 Rotterdam
Bosnia and Herzegovina at Greece 13:45 Piraeus
Cyprus at Slovenia 13:45 Maribor
Scotland at Wales 13:45 Cardiff
Israel at Luxembourg 14:00 Luxembourg
San Marino at England 14:00 London
Peru at Bolivia 14:00 La Paz
Paraguay at Colombia 15:30 Barranquilla
Chile at Ecuador 16:00 Quito
United States of America at Antigua and Barbuda 18:00 North Sound
Cuba at Canada 18:45 Toronto
Uruguay at Argentina 19:00 Mendoza
Mexico at Guyana 20:00 Houston, United States of America
Costa Rica at El Salvador 20:30 San Salvador
Jamaica at Guatemala 21:00 Guatemala City
Honduras at Panama 21:05 Panama City
New Zealand at Tahiti 1:00 (13 October) Pirae

16 October 2012
Tahiti at New Zealand 1:35 Christchurch
Solomon Islands at New Caledonia 3:30 Noumea
Uzbekistan at Qatar 7:25 Doha
Jordan at Oman 8:00 Muscat
Australia at Iraq 9:15 Doha, Qatar
Azerbaijan at Russia 10:00 Moscow
Luxembourg at Israel 11:00 Tel Aviv
Georgia at Belarus 11:00 Minsk
South Korea at Iran 11:30 Tehran
Liechtenstein at Latvia 12:00 Riga
Estonia at Andorra 12:00 Andorra La Vella
Montenegro at Ukraine 13:00 Kyiv
Norway at Cyprus 13:00 Larnaca
Netherlands at Romania 13:00 Bucharest
Lithuania at Bosnia and Herzegovina 13:00 Zenica
Wales at Croatia 13:00 Osijek
Bulgaria at Czech Republic 13:00 Prague
Ireland at Faroe Islands 13:00 Torshavn
Serbia at Macedonia 13:30 Skopje
Turkey at Hungary 13:30 Budapest
Greece at Slovakia 13:30 Bratislava
Kazakhstan at Austria 13:30 Vienna
Moldova at San Marino 13:30 Serravalle
Switzerland at Iceland 13:30 Reykjavik
Slovenia at Albania  13:45 Tirana
Scotland at Belgium 13:45 Brussels

Sweden at Germany 13:45 Berlin

Denmark at Italy 13:45 Milan
England at Poland 14:00 Warsaw
France at Spain 14:00 Madrid
Uruguay at Bolivia 14:00 La Paz
Northern Ireland at Portugal 14:45 Porto
Panama at Cuba 15:00 Havana
Canada at Honduras 15:00 San Pedro Sula
Peru at Paraguay 17:00 Asuncion
Ecuador at Venezuela 17:00 Puerto La Cruz
Antigua and Barbuda at Jamaica 18:15 Kingston
Guatemala at United States of America 18:15 Kansas City
Argentina at Chile 19:05 Santiago
El Salvador at Mexico 20:00 Torreon
Guyana at Costa Rica 20:00 San Jose

New Caledonia 4 - Tahiti 0

Photo by La Depeche employee

In the final September 2012 match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Tahiti played host to New Caledonia in the Francophone derby in Pirae.  Interestingly, Tahiti are on the other side of the International Date Line from their three group counterparts, so their home matches are played nearly twenty-four hours after the other match in their group on their three OFC Third Round home matchdays.  Tahiti captain Nicolas Vallar was suspended for this matchup, and the 2012 OFC Nations Cup champions appeared to be all out of sorts during the rematch of the final without his presence.  New Caledonia had the better of the few chances in a scoreless first forty-five minutes.

The second period would see Les Cagous take it to the Oceania champions.  A deflected ball was heading for a Tahiti own goal  until Cesar Loholea (pictured, red with ball) slid along the line to claim the opener as his own.  Three minutes on, Loholea slotted across the box for a tap-in by Bertrand Kai, giving the visitors an unexpected 2-0 lead on the road.  Just two minutes after that, Loholea continued his man-of-the-match performance with an absolutely ridiculous bicycle-kick cross that found the head of Georges Gope-Fenepej for Les Cagous' third goal in six minutes.  A stoppage-time strike was added by Gope-Fenepej.  New Caledonia win 4-0, leaving Tahiti in an unexpected last-place position with four matchdays left to play.

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

Goals
New Caledonia
Cesar Loholea 57
Bertrand Kai 60
Georges Gope-Fenepej 62, 90

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/050ca6eb-d8c7-4716-8332-fbe55cd580ac/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/719019ef-db05-46ec-987e-f28d620fc468/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.ladepeche.pf/article/football/terrible-desillusion-pour-tahiti

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtNv0MKYREk&feature=g-all-u

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

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

Tahiti returned to the site of their greatest triumph, the Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, where Tahiti won the 2012 OFC Nations Cup.  Their hosts today were Solomon Islands.  The host Bonitos had payback on their minds after suffering a 1-0 loss in the semifinals of the Nations Cup at home to this very Tahiti side.  Solomon Islands took a lead just beyond the quarter hour when a Benjamin Totori cross found captain Henry Fa'arodo, who finished for 1-0.  At the tail end of the first period in minute 43, Tahitian captain Nicolas Vallar was ejected from the match for a tackle he made as the last defender.  Goalkeeper Samson Koti made two diving saves to protect the Bonitos goal in the first half.  The Bonitos led 1-0 at the break.

Alvin Tehau found himself with a one-on-one chance to equalize early in the half, but he chopped his shot straight into Koti's chest.  On the hour mark, Himson Teleda and Fa'arodo completed a nice interplay of passing that led to the second Bonitos goal.  James Nawo was dangerous later in the half and nearly made it three goals to the good for his side, but his excellent service on corner kicks was not met with the headers they deserved.  Nelson Sale made a crucial block inside his own box to preserve the hosts' two-goal margin.  Solomon Islands win 2-0 and take the early lead in the OFC Third Round.

New Caledonia were looking to make it two straight wins against New Zealand as they welcomed the Kiwis to Noumea.  The Kiwis wanted to reverse their fortunes after a 2-0 loss to Les Cagous at the 2012 OFC Nations Cup.  Goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine looked to be repeating his heroics from the Nations Cup after he parried away an early shot, but the Kiwis were rewarded for their early pressure.  Nyikeine pushed away a Chris Wood shot, but the resultant rebound was chipped by Shane Smeltz into the net for a 1-0 All Whites lead.  Les Cagous pushed back, but their efforts were either off target or weak.  A poorly cleared Kiwi corner found its way to Michael McGlinchey, who chipped a ball to Smeltz, who nodded into Wood's path. Wood headed home from two yards to give New Zealand a 2-0 lead at the break.

In the second period, New Zealand were calm and composed and kept control of the ball.  Les Cagous had one chance with less than five minutes to play, but the loose ball in the box was pushed softly wide of goal.  New Zealand win 2-0 and next face Solomon Islands at home for the group lead on Tuesday.

Goals
Solomon Islands
Henry Fa'arodo 16
Himson Teleda 60

New Zealand
Shane Smeltz 12
Chris Wood 40

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/76c6641d-ef09-4770-9fc9-69fb4263fc3d/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/ce28daa5-28cc-49ab-b930-dc7c7c0ee983/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/438d1bb1-3576-41d4-a944-dacee2eb40b7/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/football/225037/football-all-whites-avenge-loss-new-caledonia
http://tvnz.co.nz/football-news/all-whites-buoyed-gritty-away-win-5069736

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URqSxrDnuqo&feature=g-all-u (Solomon Islands v. Tahiti)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0IIw0TA86Y&feature=g-all-u (New Zealand v. New Caledonia)

Match Schedule: September 2012

September 2012 will forever be known as the month when Europe began their qualification cycle for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Defending world and European champions Spain will make the latest 2014 debut of any team that played in South Africa 2010 when they open their tournament on 11 September 2012.  Every team in the UEFA zone will make their debut this month.

In South America, Matchdays Seven and Eight are on deck.  Oceania open their Third Round of qualifying with a double matchday.  Asia have only one matchday on tap, the fourth of ten in their final round of qualifying.  North America push beyond the midway mark of their Third Round as they play Matchdays Three and Four.

The only three teams in danger of elimination this month are Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, and Guyana.

Match times are given in Central Time (GMT-5).

7 September 2012
Tahiti at Solomon Islands 23:00 (6 September) Honiara
New Zealand at New Caledonia 4:00 Noumea
Northern Ireland at Russia 10:00 Moscow
Ireland at Kazakhstan 11:00 Astana
Israel at Azerbaijan 11:00 Baku
Belarus at Georgia 12:00 Tbilisi
Bosnia and Herzegovina at Liechtenstein 12:00 Vaduz
Romania at Estonia 13:00 Tallinn
Armenia at Malta 13:00 Ta'Qali
Slovakia at Lithuania 13:15 Vilnius
Macedonia at Croatia 13:15 Zagreb
Greece at Latvia 13:30 Riga
France at Finland 13:30 Helsinki
Poland at Montenegro 13:30 Podgorica
Cyprus at Albania 13:30 Tirana
Switzerland at Slovenia 13:30 Ljubljana
Turkey at Netherlands 13:30 Amsterdam
Hungary at Andorra 13:30 Andorra La Vella
Italy at Bulgaria 13:45 Sofia
England at Moldova 13:45 Chisinau
Faroe Islands at Germany 13:45 Hanover
Portugal at Luxembourg 13:45 Luxembourg
Belgium at Wales 13:45 Cardiff
Norway at Iceland 13:45 Reykjavik
Honduras at Cuba 14:00 Havana
Uruguay at Colombia 15:30 Barranquilla
Bolivia at Ecuador 16:00 Quito
Paraguay at Argentina 18:10 Cordoba
Panama at Canada 18:45 Toronto
United States of America at Jamaica 19:00 Kingston
Venezuela at Peru 20:25 Lima
Guyana at El Salvador 20:30 San Salvador
Antigua and Barbuda at Guatemala 21:00 Guatemala City
Mexico at Costa Rica 21:05 San Jose

8 September 2012
Serbia at Scotland 9:00 Glasgow
Czech Republic at Denmark 13:15 Copenhagen

11 September 2012
Solomon Islands at New Zealand 2:35 Auckland
Iraq at Japan 5:34 Saitama
South Korea at Uzbekistan 8:00 Tashkent
Iran at Lebanon 9:00 Beirut
Australia at Jordan 11:00 Amman
Russia at Israel 12:00 Ramat Gan
Iceland at Cyprus 12:00 Larnaca
Spain at Georgia 12:30 Tbilisi
Andorra at Romania 12:30 Bucharest
Estonia at Turkey 13:00 Istanbul
Armenia at Bulgaria 13:00 Sofia
Latvia at Bosnia and Herzegovina 13:00 Zenica
Slovenia at Norway 13:00 Oslo
Liechtenstein at Slovakia 13:15 Bratislava
Wales at Serbia 13:30 Novi Sad
Netherlands at Hungary 13:30 Budapest
Kazakhstan at Sweden 13:30 Malmo
Albania at Switzerland 13:30 Lucerne
Montenegro at San Marino 13:30 Serravalle
Germany at Austria 13:35 Vienna
Lithuania at Greece 13:45 Piraeus
Moldova at Poland 13:45 Wroclaw
Malta at Italy 13:45 Modena
Croatia at Belgium 13:45 Brussels
Luxembourg at Northern Ireland 13:45 Belfast
Belarus at France 14:00 Saint-Denis
Macedonia at Scotland 14:00 Glasgow
Ukraine at England 14:00 London
Azerbaijan at Portugal 14:15 Braga
Colombia at Chile 14:30 Santiago
Ecuador at Uruguay 16:30 Montevideo
Guatemala at Antigua and Barbuda 18:00 North Sound
Venezuela at Paraguay 18:25 Asuncion
El Salvador at Guyana 19:00 Providence
Jamaica at United States of America 19:11 Columbus
Costa Rica at Mexico 20:00 Mexico City
Canada at Panama 20:05 Panama City
Argentina at Peru 20:25 Lima
Cuba at Honduras 20:30 San Pedro Sula
New Caledonia at Tahiti 1:00 (12 September) Pirae

OFC Third Round Schedule

The final four in Oceania will face off in a double round-robin format featuring three pairs of matchdays.  The top team in the OFC Third Round advances to the Intercontinental Playoffs against the fourth-place team from CONCACAF.  The other three teams will be eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The draw for the fixtures took place in Auckland on 26 June 2012.  2012 OFC Nations Cup winners Tahiti face off against OFC Third Round favorites New Zealand in a home-and-home series in October 2012 in what could prove to be the decisive fixtures.  Without the compact schedule and stifling heat with which the teams had to contend during the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, expect New Zealand to advance from the group with Tahiti coming in second place. 

7 September 2012
New Zealand at New Caledonia
Tahiti at Solomon Islands

11 September 2012
Solomon Islands at New Zealand
New Caledonia at Tahiti

12 October 2012
New Caledonia at Solomon Islands
New Zealand at Tahiti

16 October 2012
Solomon Islands at New Caledonia
Tahiti at New Zealand

22 March 2013
New Caledonia at New Zealand
Solomon Islands at Tahiti

26 March 2013
Tahiti at New Caledonia
New Zealand at Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands 1 - New Zealand 1; Papua New Guinea 1 - Fiji 1

The opening match of the final matchday of OFC Group B took place between Papua New Guinea and Fiji in Honiara.  Fiji needed a win in order to avoid elimination from Brasil 2014.  Nearing the quarter hour mark, Fiji jumped on a poor punch by the opposing goalkeeper Leslie Kalai and scored after having a two-header combination in the box.  Alvin Singh headed to a crouching Maciu Dunadamu, who scored Fiji's first goal of the 2014 FIFA World Cup to give his side a 1-0 lead.  Three minutes later, the luckless Osea Vakatalesau chipped over the onrushing Kalai, but the ball drifted wide.  Roy Krishna sent a left-foot bomb just over the crossbar seven minutes later.  The half ended without any further goals, so it was 1-0 Fiji.  Fijian centerback Samuela Vula was his usual self in the first period, replete with crunching tackles and solid clearances.

Just seven minutes after the restart, the Kapuls' Raymond Gunemba botched an open header at the far post which would have tied the match.  Twenty minutes into the half, Eric Komeng got hold of a rebound, but he too shot wide of the Fijian goal.  One minute later, Fiji substitute Apisai Smith toe-poked a rebound to Dunadamu, who shot high of goal.  Smith continued to wreak havoc with the Kapuls' backline, and he force a great save from Kalai.  Six minutes from time, a Papua New Guinea free kick hit an open Kema Jack, who headed the ball home into the corner with some side spin, and the game was equalized.  The crowd in Honiara went crazy because the draw would qualify their Solomon Islands side to the OFC Third Round and eliminate Fiji.  Dunadamu had one final chance to win for Fiji, but his toe-poke was smothered by Kalai as Kalai came sliding forward.  The final score was 1-1.  With the draw, Fiji are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup with two points earned from three matches as they were chasing a Solomon Islands team that had already amassed four points through two games.

Solomon Islands had advanced to the OFC Third Round thanks to Fiji's result but still had a chance to win Group B later in the day against New Zealand.  The host Bonitos got to play before a capacity crowd in Honiara that was ready for further celebration after already having seen the Bonitos qualify after the earlier 1-1 draw.  After eight minutes, Rory Fallon struck a header at the Bonitos' goal, but Jeffery Bule was there to head it off the line.  The rain began shortly thereafter, but quickly went away.  Leo Bertos sent a nice chipped ball to Chris Wood that beat the offside trap just as the rain stopped falling.  Wood let the ball hit his chest before spinning left and then firing off the volley past goalkeeper Felix Ray to give New Zealand a 1-0 lead.  Benjamin Totori (pictured, yellow) of the Solomon Islands had been rested for the previous game against Fiji with the intent of unleashing him against the Kiwis.  Henry Fa'arodo ran a ball down at the end line and slotted a pass to Totori who blasted into the side netting, giving many in the crowd the illusion of an equalizer.  New Zealand took a 1-0 lead into the half despite resting numerous players for the semifinal stage of the 2012 OFC Nations Cup, including Shane Smeltz, Tony Lochhead, and Ivan Vicelich. 

The second half was the Totori showcase.  Five minutes in, he slalomed around three defenders before threading a ball that crept along the face of goal with no teammates around for the tap in.  Two minutes later, centerback Michael Boxall was forced to intervene to clear the Kiwi lines.  Five minutes after that, Totori slalomed over thirty yards to make his way into the box, at which point he unleashed a shot into the far post upper ninety for the equalizer that sent the crowd into quite a frenzy.  Five minutes after that, Fallon headed to the far post for New Zealand but Ray was there to punch away.  Three minutes on, Kiwi goalkeeper Jake Gleeson (pictured, blue) had to use his knee to block a shot from the onrushing Joses Nawo.  The game slowed considerably for twenty minutes or so, but Adam McGeorge did coax another great save out of Ray.  Deep into stoppage time, the Bonitos looked to be on the verge of a shock victory.  First, Fa'arodo went straight for goal from a short angled free kick from the left, but he blasted too high.  Immediately after regaining possession, Totori again slalmoed  down the left flank before ripping a last gasp shot just wide of the post.  New Zealand escape with a 1-1 draw and top Group B ahead of second-place Solomon Islands.

New Zealand 7 pts IN
Solomon Islands 5 pts IN
Fiji OUT
Papua New Guinea OUT

Goals
Fiji
Maciu Dunadamu 14

Papua New Guinea
Kema Jack 85

New Zealand
Chris Wood 14

Solomon Islands
Benjamin Totori 57

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/223b4d94-2d17-4bf6-89f0-abd33931a9b8/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/04d7aad7-ea32-4d54-90be-0effb2738cfa/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNcH8tW-3oM&feature=g-all-u (Papua New Guinea v. Fiji)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDIiMvLdZg4&feature=g-all-u (Solomon Islands v. New Zealand)

Tahiti 4 - Vanuatu 1; New Caledonia 9 - Samoa 0

New Caledonia came onto the field at Honiara knowing that a five-goal win over Samoa would be enough to see them through to the OFC Third Round as one of the top two teams in Group A regardless of the later result between Tahiti and Vanuatu.  Les Cagous of New Caledonia were so sure that they would obtain the big result, they rested Bertrand Kai, Oliver Dokunengo, Dominique Wacalie and Rocky Nyikeine for the semifinal round of the 2012 OFC Nations Cup that begins in three days' time.  Perhaps the knowledge that Jacques Haeko was going to be playing gave Les Cagous the comfort they needed.  Ten minutes in, the first goal was found.  Haeko made it 2-0 a minute later.  Two more goals were find around the midway point of the first half, the second on a penalty kick, giving New Caledonia a 4-0 lead.  New Caledonia scored in the final minute of the half, and then Haeko scored his second in stoppage time for a 6-0 halftime lead.

Haeko waited nearly a half hour to finish his hat trick, but he then proceeded to score in both the final minute of regulation and in second-half stoppage time, bringing his personal account on the day to five goals, including the only three of the second half.  New Caledonia win 9-0, which was enough to see themselves through to the OFC Third Round without worrying about the later match.  Samoa are officially eliminated from Brasil 2014.

Vanuatu came out against Tahiti knowing that they would have to win by five goals or more to overtake Tahiti on goal differential and advance over Tahiti into the OFC Third Round.  In spite of this cushion, Tahiti did not come out and defend because they were looking to win Group A and avoid a likely matchup with New Zealand in the semifinals of the OFC Nations Cup.

Tahiti's Angelo Tchen made a couple of saves with his body, including the second with his head, to prevent his goalkeeper from coming under far.  Teaonui Tehau was chopped down violently by Vanuatu's goalkeeper Enest Bong, who was lucky to escape with only a yellow card.  Tahiti converted on the penalty kick for a 1-0 lead.  Robert Tasso nearly equalized for Vanuatu, but his shot hit the outside of the right post.  Later, Tasso flashed a ball past the left post that was something between a direct strike and a through ball.  On a corner kick with eight minutes left in the first half, Tahiti overloaded the front post only to send the kick to the back post where Johnathan Tehau (pictured, white) leapt high to head home for a 2-0 lead.  The score remained stable through the half.

A dozen minutes after play had resumed, Tchen caught up to a ball on the right side of the endline, at which point he passed to Johnathan Tehau, who flicked a ball unsighted to an open Alvin Tehau to give Tahiti a 3-0 lead.  With a quarter hour left, Alphonse Bongnaim botched an open header at the far post off a Vanuatu corner kick, and with that the match seemed to be wrapped up for Tahiti.  Teanoui Tehau got his revenge on Bong with three minutes left when he calmly finished his solo break toward Vanuatu's goal.  Tasso latched onto a through ball in the final minute of stoppage time and finished by nutmegging the goalkeeper for Vanuatu's consolation goal.  This was the final goal of Group A play, and it finalized Tahiti's 4-1 win and progression as a first place team.  Vanuatu are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Tahiti 9 pts IN
New Caledonia 6 pts IN
Vanuatu OUT
Samoa OUT

Goals
New Caledonia
Roy Kayara 10
Jacques Haeko 11, 45+1, 72, 90, 90+1
Iamel Kabeu 22
Judikael Ixoe 25 PK
Kalas Gnipate 45

Tahiti
Nicolas Vallar 15 PK
Johnathan Tehau 38
Alvin Tehau 57
Teaonui Tehau 87

Vanuatu
Robert Tasso 90+5

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/e0d0c3ad-80a0-479e-8a2c-618e7576da64/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/f10f107e-88a6-45e5-8194-ff00e6f5916d/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlFDuS2juiM&feature=g-all-u (New Caledonia v. Samoa)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbGzoz5Awsg&feature=g-all-u (Tahiti v. Vanuatu)

Fiji 0 - Solomon Islands 0; New Zealand 2 - Papua New Guinea 1

Photo by Photosport employee

The matches of the OFC Second Round rival those of CONMEBOL when it comes to drama this month in qualifying for Brasil 2014.  The All Whites of New Zealand made their second appearance in Honiara in three days, this time against Papua New Guinea.  After only one minute and change had elapsed, Kiwi Jeremy Brockie sent in a cross that was nodded home by Shane Smeltz (pictured, white), giving New Zealand an early 1-0 lead for the second time in as many matches.  However, after a quarter hour New Zealand no longer had control of the match.  Three minutes before time, the Kapuls nearly equalized, but Mike Foster's long shot was tipped over the bar by Jake Gleeson.  The Kiwis lead 1-0 at the break.

Raymond Gunemba missed an open header in the box two minutes after play restarted.  The Kapuls were caught with both fullbacks forward seven minutes later, and Smeltz played a great ball across the box to Chris Wood, who finished for a 2-0 lead.  Smeltz hit the crossbar four minutes after that.  From then on, the Kapuls looked dangerous.  Substitute Neil Hans slid to cross to shoot off a low cross, and the ball floated just over the crossbar, but Hans scored five minutes later from the penalty spot after Tony Lochhead had handled a Hans shot in the penalty area.  New Zealand held on for the 2-1 win.

Hosts Solomon Islands then took to the pitch against Fiji in an exciting rivalry match in Honiara.  This may have been the most up-and-down match of the entire 2014 FIFA World Cup so far.  Fijian striker Osea Vakatalesau missed on a solo breakaway five minutes into the match.   Eight minutes after that, Henry Fa'arodo appeared to have netted the opener for the host Bonitos, but he was ruled offside, which he realized after his celebration had begun.  Four minutes later, Fa'arodo's shot was parried aside by Fiji goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau.  Joe Luwi got onto the rebound but drove his shot right back to Tamanisau.  Ten minutes after that, Pita Bolaitoga reached up with the hand of god to score an illegal goal, for which he received a yellow card.  Vakatalesau came close twice in the next twelve minutes, the second time heading over the crossbar from around ten yards with Bonitos goalkeeper Felix Ray beaten.  Three minutes after that, Joe Luwi's cross found James Naka's head.  The header bounced off the ground and toward the underside of the crossbar, but Tamanisau tipped it over.  Despite twenty-shots (thirteen for Fiji), the first half ended scoreless.

In the second period, old soccer adages were disobeyed.  Thirteen minutes after the whistle to resume was blown, Fiji had two headers in the box off a corner.  Two headers always equals a goal, but Alvin Singh sent the second one off frame.  Three minutes later, Ray smothered Roy Krishna's one-on-one breakaway to keep the hosts level at zero goals apiece.  With three minutes left in the match, Bolaitoga knocked a header home, but he was deemed to be offside.  Two minutes later, Vakatalesau was stonewalled by Ray who then immediately rolled an outlet pass to the right side that led to Nicolas Muri getting into the box, but his shot was pushed away by Tamanisau.  Despite fifteen shots in the second half (eight for Fiji), the match ended at 0-0.

With the tie in the second match of the day, New Zealand secure their progression to the OFC Third Round with one match remaining.  Papua New Guinea are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but they do have a match left against Fiji on 6 June 2012.  Solomon Islands will host New Zealand in the last match in Group B.  The crazy scenario of the final matchday is as follows: if both New Zealand and Fiji win by exactly one goal and Fiji score exactly one more goal than the Solomon Islands do during Matchday Three, then qualification will be decided by a drawing of lots between the Solomon Islands and Fiji.

New Zealand 6 pts IN
Solomon Islands 4 pts +1 1 goal scored
Fiji 1 pts -1 0 goals scored
Papua New Guinea OUT

Goals
New Zealand
Shane Smeltz 2
Chris Wood 54

Papua New Guinea
Neil Hans 87 PK

Match Reports
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/eb30638e-c428-438c-b428-6b5ae7000f1a/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/2f537946-88bb-4959-a419-b4340039046e/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1643812/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_box_3

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLM7JLIBxkU&feature=g-all-u (New Zealand v. Papua New Guinea)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMA-4YBMRd0&feature=g-all-u (Fiji v. Solomon Islands)