laval godparent: NZ beat New Caledonia, Solomons top Tahiti

Friday, September 7, 2012

NZ beat New Caledonia, Solomons top Tahiti

Associated Press Sports

updated 10:04 a.m. ET Sept. 7, 2012

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -New Zealand grabbed a valuable 2-0 away win over New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands beat Tahiti 2-0 at home on Friday to open the third stage of Oceania qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

Shane Smeltz and Chris Wood scored for New Zealand, who avenged their shock loss to New Caledonia in the semifinals of the Oceania Nations Cup, the previous qualifying stage in the far-flung Pacific confederation.

The four semifinalists from that tournament are contesting the third stage of qualifying which features home and away matches between all teams and which continues until March 2013.

The winner of the tournament will then face the fifth-placed team from CONCACAF for a place in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Earlier on Friday, Henry Fa'arodo scored in the first half and Himson Teleda in the second as the Solomons thrilled a home crowd at Lawson Tama Stadium in the Pacific nation's capital Honiara.

Fa'arodo struck in the 17th minute, driving home Benjamin Totori's cross from the right wing.

Tahiti was reduced to 10 men just before halftime when Nicolas Vallar was sent off for a reckless tackle on Fa'arodo and Teleda sealed the win with his 59th-minute goal from Fa'arodo's pass.

New Zealand, led by Queens Park Rangers defender Ryan Nelson, scored twice before halftime as it outplayed New Caledonia at Noumea's Stade Numa Daly.

Smeltz opened the scoring in the 12th minute when New Caledonia goalkeeper Rocky Nyikeine failed to hold a shot from Wood, deflecting the ball to the feet of the New Zealand striker.

Wood added the second goal in the 40th minute when Smeltz flicked on a cross from midfielder Michael McGlinchey.

Tahiti will play New Caledonia in Papeete, Tahiti and New Zealand will host the Solomon Islands in Auckland in the second round of matches on Tuesday.

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