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Post by Panda on Aug 26, 2007 13:20:38 GMT 1
Qualifying for the 2010 World Cup has got underway in Samoa with the South Pacific Games acting as the first round for Oceania.
The top 3 from the tournament will join New Zealand in the final Oceania round.
Results to follow.
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Post by Panda on Aug 26, 2007 13:27:37 GMT 1
Group A: TAHITI 0-1 NEW CALEDONIA New Caledonia edge a battle between 2 teams fancied to progress.
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Post by Panda on Aug 26, 2007 13:30:26 GMT 1
Group A: FIJI 16-0 TUVALU Osea Vakatalesau scores 6 as Fiji beat Tuvalu, who aren't actually members of FIFA.
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Post by Panda on Aug 26, 2007 13:33:01 GMT 1
Group B: SOLOMON ISLANDS 12-1 AMERICAN SAMOA The Solomon Islands, who reached the Oceania final last time, get off to a winning start against one of the weakest teams in the competition.
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Post by Panda on Aug 26, 2007 13:34:32 GMT 1
Group B: VANUATU 4-0 SAMOA The hosts, who were captained by Tim Cahill's older brother Chris, suffer defeat in their opening game.
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Post by Panda on Aug 26, 2007 13:54:26 GMT 1
Also, the qualifying format has been announced for Africa. Because qualifying for 2010 is also being used as qualifying for the 2010 African Nations Cup, South Africa will be the first World Cup hosts in over 70 years to play in qualifying. They will still qualify automatically for the World Cup.
1st round draw: Madagascar v Djibouti Somalia v Swaziland Central African Republic v Sao Tome & Principe Sierra Leone v Guinea-Bissau Seychelles v Djibouti
The 5 winners from Round 1 will join the other 43 African teams in Round 2. They will be drawn in 12 groups of 4 with the 12 winners and 8 best runners-up going through to the final round.
The final round will see 5 groups of 4 with the 5 winners qualifying for the World Cup and the top 3 in each group qualifying for the African Nations Cup. If South Africa win their group, the runners-up will qualify for the World Cup. If Angola, who are hosting the ANC, reach the final stage, all 4 teams in their group will qualify for the ANC.
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Post by suedehead on Aug 26, 2007 21:44:01 GMT 1
Do Tuvalu get to play American Samoa? I want to see that game!
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Post by Panda on Aug 28, 2007 15:34:28 GMT 1
Do Tuvalu get to play American Samoa? I want to see that game! No, they're in separate groups.
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Post by Panda on Aug 28, 2007 15:36:46 GMT 1
Results from the second round of games... Group A: FIJI 4-0 COOK ISLANDS Fiji get their second win. They sit out the next round of games.
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Post by Panda on Aug 28, 2007 15:40:22 GMT 1
Group A: NEW CALEDONIA 1-0 TUVALU Almost a major shock as a second string New Caledonia scrape past Tuvalu thanks to a goalkeeping mistake. Group A table: 1. Fiji 6pts (2 games played) GD= +20 2. New Caledonia 6 (2) +2 3. Tahiti 0 (1) -1 4. Cook Islands 0 (1) -4 5. Tuvalu 0 (2) -17
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Post by Panda on Aug 28, 2007 15:44:08 GMT 1
Group B: SAMOA 7-0 AMERICAN SAMOA Chris Cahill gets on the scoresheet twice as the hosts get off the mark against their neighbours.
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Post by Panda on Aug 28, 2007 15:47:03 GMT 1
Group B: SOLOMON ISLANDS 4-0 TONGA The favourites top the group after their second win. Group B table: 1. Solomon Islands 6 (2) +15 2. Vanuatu 3 (1) +4 3. Samoa 3 (2) +3 4. Tonga 0 (1) -4 5. American Samoa 0 (2) -18
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Post by Panda on Aug 28, 2007 15:49:23 GMT 1
Next round of games (take place on Thursday morning UK time):
Group A Tuvalu v Tahiti New Caledonia v Cook Islands
Group B American Samoa v Vanuatu Samoa v Tonga
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Post by Panda on Aug 30, 2007 10:34:47 GMT 1
Today's results... Group A: TUVALU 1-1 TAHITI An amazing result for Tuvalu and a massive blow to Tahiti's qualification hopes. They must win their last 2 games to stand any chance of progressing. Tuvalu may well fancy getting their first win as they play the Cook Islands in their final game. Hopefully their rapid improvement in this tournament will encourage them to apply for FIFA membership and enter the World Cup for real next time around.
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Post by Panda on Aug 30, 2007 10:38:12 GMT 1
Group A: NEW CALEDONIA 3-0 COOK ISLANDS New Caledonia's 3rd win in a row puts them through to the semi-finals with a game to spare. They still haven't conceded a goal. Table: 1. New Caledonia 3-9 (+5) 2. Fiji 2-6 (+20) 3. Tahiti 2-1 (-1) 4. Tuvalu 3-1 (-17) 5. Cook Islands 2-0 (-7)
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Post by Panda on Aug 30, 2007 10:44:07 GMT 1
Group B: AMERICAN SAMOA 0-15 VANUATU An easy win for Vanuatu with 3 players scoring hat-tricks. It was only 2-0 when American Samoa had their captain sent off 6 minutes before half-time but Vanuatu then managed to score 3 more before the break and ran riot in the second half. Apart from withdrawals, American Samoa are the first team officially eliminated from the 2010 World Cup.
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Post by Panda on Aug 30, 2007 10:49:14 GMT 1
Group B: SAMOA 2-1 TONGA The hosts stay alive with a much-needed win. A result against the Solomon Islands in their final game could take them through. Given the goal differences involved, Tonga are all but out. Table: 1. Vanuatu 2-6 (+19) 2. Solomon Islands 2-6 (+15) 3. Samoa 3-6 (+4) 4. Tonga 2-0 (-5) 5. American Samoa 3-0 (-33)
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Post by Panda on Sept 2, 2007 12:22:14 GMT 1
Yesterday's results... Group A: COOK ISLANDS 4-0 TUVALU The Cook Islands get their first win as Tuvalu bow out with their heads held high. Hopefully we'll see them in the next campaign as members of FIFA.
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Post by Panda on Sept 2, 2007 12:26:04 GMT 1
Group A: TAHITI 0-4 FIJI Fiji get their 3rd win to book their place in the semi-finals. Tomorrow's game against New Caledonia will decide who plays who in the semis. A disastrous campaign for Tahiti, who would've fancied their chances of going through. No win in 3 games and they're just playing for pride against the Cook Islands. Table: 1. Fiji 3-9 (+24) 2. New Caledonia 3-9 (+5) 3. Cook Islands 3-3 (-3) 4. Tahiti 3-1 (-5) 5. Tuvalu 4-1 (-21)
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Post by Panda on Sept 2, 2007 12:27:38 GMT 1
Group B: TONGA 4-0 AMERICAN SAMOA Tonga keep their hopes alive with a comfortable win over the whipping boys...
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