VIDEO - Navy Blues in action in Qatar

Words: ACFC Media

Monday 28 March 2022

DOHA, Qatar - New Zealand will face the Solomon Islands in the final of the Oceania FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Qatar after the latest round of action in the Middle East.

Current and former Auckland City FC players were, as ever, part of the narrative as the countdown to the FIFA World Cup continued.

The Solomon Islands Covid-19 ravaged Group A concluded with Tahiti taking on the Felipe Vega-Arango-coached side late last week.

Skipper Micah Lea'alafa, who played 74 games and scored 34 goals for Auckland City FC, led his team to a 3-2 win thanks to a hat-trick by Raphael Lea'i.

Alvin Tehau was on target for Tahiti.

The Solomon Islands qualified for the final after an exciting 3-2 win over Papua New Guinea in which Lea'alafa was again a key figure.

Maro Bonsu-Maro of the Cook Islands and Brian Kaltak of Vanuatu saw their World Cup hopes evaporate due to Covid-19.

Atkin Kaua was in the middle of everything for the Solomon Islands on his way to being named Man of the Match in the first semi-final on Monday morning.#OceaniaQualifiers pic.twitter.com/fC6vC0Rc8k
— OFC Oceania Football (@OFCfootball) March 27, 2022

New Zealand wrapped up top spot in Group B after a 7-1 demolition job of New Caledonia.

Auckland City FC was well represented with skipper Cam Howieson starting the game alongside former Junior Navy Blues player Nikko Boxall, Tim Payne, Callum McCowatt and Logan Rogerson.

Alex Grieve and Chris Wood helped themselves to two goals each while Rogerson, Tuiloma and Andre De Jong also scored.

Jean-Phillipe Saiko scored for the Francophones with an impressive headed goal.

There was to be no semi-final joy for Roy Krishna with the former Navy Blue unable to prevent defeat for Fiji against Papua New Guinea in a 2-1 loss.

New Zealand were given a torrid time in their 1-0 semi-final win over Tahiti.

Former Navy Blues Callum McCowatt and Tim Payne saw action, the former earning a start the latter appearing as a substitute.

The final between Solomon Islands and New Zealand is scheduled for Thursday 31 March 2022 at the Grand Hamad Stadium and kicks off at 6.00am NZDT.

Ends

WATCH MATCHES AS LIVE AT THE LINKS BELOW

Full Match Schedule here

Match Results

PNG overcome 10-man Fiji, advance to semi-finals | Oceania Football Confederation #oceaniaqualifiers https://t.co/iFXpsR92kt
— OFC Oceania Football (@OFCfootball) March 24, 2022

GROUP A

Oceania FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Friday 25 March 2022
Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha
Solomon Islands 3 (Raphael LEA'I 20', 52', 90'+6')
Tahiti 1 (Alvin TEHAU 26')
HT: 1-1.
(FIFA Match Report here)
(Watch As Live here)

Oceania FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Friday 25 March 2022
Cook Islands v Vanuatu - Match Cancelled due to Covid-19

GROUP B

Oceania FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Friday 25 March 2022
Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium
New Zealand 7 (Alex GRIEVE 8', 45'+2', Logan ROGERSON 36', Andre DE JONG 75', Bill TUILOMA 81', Chirs WOOD 83', 89')
New Caledonia 1 (Jean-Phillipe SAIKO 12')
HT: 3-1.
(FIFA Match Report here)
(Watch As Live here)

Oceania FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Friday 25 March 2022
Grand Hamad Stadium
Fiji 1 (Tevita WARANAIVALU 12')
Papua New Guinea 2 (Ati KEPO 45'+2', Tommy SEMMY 63')
HT: 1-1.
(FIFA Match Report here)
(Watch As Live here)

The #OceaniaQualifiers semi-final match-ups are confirmed:
v - March 27, 5pm Qatar time
v - March 27, 8.30pm Qatar time pic.twitter.com/GeiLqIW6N7
— OFC Oceania Football (@OFCfootball) March 24, 2022

OCEANIA FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - SEMI-FINALS

Oceania FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Monday 28 March 2022
Grand Hamad Stadium
Solomon Islands 3 (Alvin HOU 33', 66', Raphael LEA'I 71')
Papua New Guinea 2 (Alwin KOMOLONG 24', Ati KEPO 88')
HT: 1-1.
(FIFA Match Report here)
(Watch As Live here)

Oceania FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Monday 28 March 2022
Grand Hamad Stadium
New Zealand 1 (Liberato CACACE 71')
Tahiti 0
HT: 0-0.
(FIFA Match Report here)
(Watch As Live here)