Vanuatu and Samoa faced each other on Matchday Two of the OFC Second Round in Honiara. Both teams needed to win today to regain traction in the race for a top-two finish in Group A with the loser likely to find themselves eliminated by the night's end. Samoa had the first chance, but Suivai Ataga's breakaway chip attempt was tipped over the bar by Vanuatu goalkeeper Seiloni Iaruel. Vanuatu asserted their dominance close to the half hour mark when they knocked home the opener. Iaruel later took down Silao Malo in the box to concede a penalty, but Iaruel saved Andrew Stefano's penalty kick. In stoppage time, Vanuatu's Brian Kaltak scored a nice volleyed goal off a corner kick to put his side up 2-0 going into the break.
During the first minute of the second period, Vanuatu scored yet again. With fifteen minutes left in regular time, Vanuatu found their fourth. Another Vanuatu goal was found in second-half stoppage time from a header off a short free kick, giving the side five goals from five different players and a 5-0 win, their first of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Tahiti and New Caledonia played another edition of their grudge match. Tahiti showed that their big win against Samoa was no fluke. Angelo Tchen struck a free kick from midfield on a rope, drawing a corner kick. Alvin Tehau rose up high above his defenders on the resulting corner kick to head home from one meter to put Tahiti up 1-0. On Tahiti's next corner kick ten minutes later, Georges Gope-Fenepej put his hands in their air and paid dearly for his insolence, drawing a penalty and a red card in minute 28 after he commited a handball on Tchen's shot in the box. Captain Nicolas Vallar put away the resulting penalty kick for a 2-0 lead. But three minutes later, Johnathan Tehau (pictured, white) led a 2-1 break for Tahiti and side-chipped the defender to lay the ball off for an open Lorenzo Tehau to slot home for an unexpected 3-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, New Caledonia started to run out of players. In minute 54, Jean Wakanumune was ejected with a straight red card for a rash tackle. Teammate Marius Bako (pictured, red) picked up a yellow for dissent and then almost got himself thrown out on the very next play with a bad foul; however, Les Cagous remained only two players and three goals down in the Francophone derby. Being two men down seemed to ignite a fire under Les Cagous, especially since Tahiti's level of play dropped significantly. Bako picked up a loose ball after Tahitian goalkeeper Mikael Roche punched away, and Bako expertly lofted a chip over Roche and just under the crossbar for 3-1. Ten minutes from time, Roche made a great initial save from Jacques Haeko's hid, but Haeko slid into the rebound off the post and was able to finish for 3-2, leading to an unexpectedly dramatic final ten minutes. A silly free kick was given up by Tahiti, but Roche punched away, leading to a break for Tahiti. Substitute Roihau Degage struck for a fourth goal for Tahiti, sealing the victory 4-2. Or so it seemed. A corner kick flew over the hands of Roche and landed at Dick Kauma's feet with an open net before him. The scoreline quickly became 4-3 with four minutes left in the match. Despite their rousing comeback with nine men, New Caledonia lose the match 4-3.
All four teams remain alive coming into the final matchday on Tuesday, though Samoa will need an absolute miracle to sneak through. Expect New Caledonia to defeat Samoa by at least three goals, leaving Vanuatu in a position where they must defeat Tahiti by at least three goals themselves while scoring more goals than New Caledonia do. Tahiti will advance so long as they do not suffer a massive loss to Vanuatu; even a three-goal loss would see Tahiti advance. If New Caledonia win by five goals over Samoa, New Caledonia will be safe regardless of the later result.
Tahiti 6 pts +10 14 goals scored
New Caledonia 3 pts +2 8 goals scored
Vanuatu 3 pts +2 7 goals scored
Samoa 0 pts -14
Goals
Vanuatu
Jean Napropol 26
Brian Kaltak 45+1
Dereck Malas 46
Robert Tasso 74
Fredy Vava 90+3
Tahiti
Alvin Tehau 19
Nicolas Vallar 29 PK
Lorenzo Tehau 32
Roihau Degage 84
New Caledonia
Marius Boka 74
Jacques Haeko 80
Dick Kauam 86
Match Reports:
2012 African Cup of Nations semifinalists Mali were believed to be the big threat to knock off Algeria in Group H, but their opening fixture away to Benin in Cotonou was a tricky one for Mali's Les Aigles. Zamalek (Egypt) striker Razak Omotoyossi (pictured, white) powered through three defenders on route to firing a wicked shot to give Benin a 1-0 lead that would hold through the first half.
