Dylan Manickum (Left) has celebrated his record breaking 60th game for New Zealand leading the side into the semi-finals at the OFC Futsal Nations Cup 2023 in Auckland. Photo: OFC Media via Phototek
New Zealand are the first team to book a place in the knock out rounds of the Oceania Futsal Nations Cup after two days of competition at the Pullman Arena in Auckland.
The Futsal Whites made an impressive start to their campaign on Sunday with a 6-3 win over Vanuatu in the Group A opener while Fiji comprehensively defeated Tonga 9-0 in the other group fixture.
The hosts followed this up on Monday with a 7-2 win over Fiji securing their place in the semi-finals with a game still-in-hand against Tonga on Wednesday. Vanuatu meanwhile had an absolute goal-fest against Tonga the final score ending 20-2.
This leaves Fiji and Vanuatu to battle it out on Wednesday for the second qualification spot in Group A. A draw between the two would see Vanuatu progress on goal difference.
Tahiti came within a whisker of qualifying for the semi-finals of the OFC Futsal Nations Cup in Auckland only to be denied by a late Solomon Islands equalisier to draw 5-5 at the Bruce Pulman Arena. Photo: OFC media
Group B wide open
Over in Group B a strong second-half performance from Tahiti saw them power past Samoa 5-0 in their opening fixture on Sunday. Solomon Islands and New Caledonia meanwhile played out a thrilling 2-2 draw
On day two Tahiti came agonisingly close to qualifying for the semi-finals, only to be denied by a late Solomon Islands equalising goal resulting in a 5-5 draw while New Caledonia defeated Samoa 7-2.
As things stand New Caledonia and Tahiti are tied for first place with 4 points-a-piece leaving the Solomon Islands needing to beat Samoa by a large score margin to ensure they come out on top if things come down to goal difference.
But ultimately the group will be decided by the result of the match between New Caledonia and Tahiti when the competition resumes on Wednesday at the Pullman Arena in Auckland.
The Solomon Islands Kurukuru have represented Oceania in the last four FIFA Futsal World Cups but the New Zealand Futsal Whites broke their dominant reign in last year's OFC Futsal Nations Cup beating them 6-2 in the final in Suva.
The winner of this week's tournament will represent Oceania at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan next year.
