I particularly enjoyed the last episode, with so many teams fighting it out to get through to the next round of Asian qualifying. Today we start the second round of qualifying in Oceania. There are six sides that made it through the first round. These have been drawn into two groups of 3 (with teams from the same Round 1 group kept apart), and the winner of each group will meet in a play-off to be Oceania’s representative in the Intercontinental play-off. This is how the draw looks:
So today we’ll be looking at Group A, containing Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Cook Islands. Vanuatu flew through their Round 1 group, finishing with 16 points from a possible 18 and a goal difference of 20. They’ll be favourites here, but they might face a challenge from Solomon Islands, who took 14 points in their group and finished unbeaten. Less is expected of the Cook Islands, who progressed thanks to edging New Caledonia and Micronesia on goal difference.
I’ll give a fairly brief overview of how the opening three matches panned out, before going into the final three matches in more detail.
Cook Islands vs. Vanuatu
Any questions over whether Vanuatu could maintain their form from Round 1 were dispelled when they went 3-0 up within 14 minutes. Two of these came from Osea Vakatalesau, and he completed his hat-trick with a 42nd-minute penalty. Defender Fedy Vava had the other goal, and he doubled his tally with a looping header from a corner. Cook Islands did improve, and a fine finish from Junior Puroku was the only goal in the second half, 5-1 the final score.
I’ll give a fairly brief overview of how the opening three matches panned out, before going into the final three matches in more detail.
Cook Islands vs. Vanuatu
Any questions over whether Vanuatu could maintain their form from Round 1 were dispelled when they went 3-0 up within 14 minutes. Two of these came from Osea Vakatalesau, and he completed his hat-trick with a 42nd-minute penalty. Defender Fedy Vava had the other goal, and he doubled his tally with a looping header from a corner. Cook Islands did improve, and a fine finish from Junior Puroku was the only goal in the second half, 5-1 the final score.
Vanuatu vs. Solomon Islands
Vanuatu faced a much sterner opposition in the form of Solomon Islands, and it was the visitors who struck in the second minute when Guilherme (8 goals in Round 1) drilled a low shot home. It was an even game, but Vanuatu fell further behind when they left a gap for Judd Molea to run through and double the lead. Vanuatu finally got one back through Massimiliano Lionetti’s penalty, but soon after gave Solomon Islands a penalty of their own. However, this time Molea’s shot went significantly wide. It didn’t matter, though, as Vanuatu couldn’t find an equaliser and fell to a damaging 2-1 loss.
Vanuatu faced a much sterner opposition in the form of Solomon Islands, and it was the visitors who struck in the second minute when Guilherme (8 goals in Round 1) drilled a low shot home. It was an even game, but Vanuatu fell further behind when they left a gap for Judd Molea to run through and double the lead. Vanuatu finally got one back through Massimiliano Lionetti’s penalty, but soon after gave Solomon Islands a penalty of their own. However, this time Molea’s shot went significantly wide. It didn’t matter, though, as Vanuatu couldn’t find an equaliser and fell to a damaging 2-1 loss.
Solomon Islands vs. Cook Islands
Given the first two results, hopes weren't high for Cook Islands, but they took the lead after 12 seconds, a defensive lapse allowing Puroku to run through and slide the ball home. The fabulously-named Jerry Donga soon had Solomon Islands level, but a tense period of play followed as both teams looked for an upper hand. Solomon Islands had the chance to lead from the spot, but once again Molea missed. However, they soon were in front via Joses Nawo’s neat strike. This opened the floodgates as Solomon Islands added four more in a 10-minute spell around the break. Finishing touches were added to an ultimately-comprehensive win by Djair and Guilherme, who did score from the spot to wrap up a hat-trick and an 8-1 win.
Given the first two results, hopes weren't high for Cook Islands, but they took the lead after 12 seconds, a defensive lapse allowing Puroku to run through and slide the ball home. The fabulously-named Jerry Donga soon had Solomon Islands level, but a tense period of play followed as both teams looked for an upper hand. Solomon Islands had the chance to lead from the spot, but once again Molea missed. However, they soon were in front via Joses Nawo’s neat strike. This opened the floodgates as Solomon Islands added four more in a 10-minute spell around the break. Finishing touches were added to an ultimately-comprehensive win by Djair and Guilherme, who did score from the spot to wrap up a hat-trick and an 8-1 win.
So halfway in, we have this table:
Anyway, let’s follow the final three ties:
Vanuatu vs. Cook Islands
With not many players available for any teams’ squads in Oceania, there’s not a lot of room for rotation, and as such both sides are unchanged. Cook Islands persist with striker Strickland out of position on the right wing, due to a lack of anyone else who can play there, as they continue with their deep-lying 3-4-3. Vanuatu stick with their unusual 4-4-2, which has two defensive wingers and two attacking CMs.
Vanuatu vs. Cook Islands
With not many players available for any teams’ squads in Oceania, there’s not a lot of room for rotation, and as such both sides are unchanged. Cook Islands persist with striker Strickland out of position on the right wing, due to a lack of anyone else who can play there, as they continue with their deep-lying 3-4-3. Vanuatu stick with their unusual 4-4-2, which has two defensive wingers and two attacking CMs.
Vanuatu know that as Cook Islands are so weak, goal difference is likely to be the only way they can finish above Solomon Islands, so they go out there in an attacking mindset. It only takes them four minutes to open the scoring, as a long ball from Vava is picked up by Vakatalesau, who lashes it beyond Jamieson. However, a quick Cook Islands attack finds a gap for Sam Margetts, and he buries a low shot in for the equaliser. In the 27th minute it’s Vanuatu’s turn to score on the break, the finish coming from Colin Marshall following a pinpoint cross from James Naka. Immediately after, Vakatalesau’s long effort drifts past Jamieson for 3-1, a poor effort from the goalkeeper. It’s the last goal of the half, and it ends 3-1, a scoreline both sides need to improve.
It’s Vanuatu who add to their tally 22 seconds into the half as Vakatalesau turns provider with a low cross prodded in by Michel Kaltak. Two minutes later Vakatalesau powers in a cross himself to get a hat-trick. Naka has been key for Vanuatu this campaign so far, and he gets a deserved goal from yet another low cross. Silas Namatak gets in on the action for Vanuatu’s 7th, and they weren’t looking to ease off as they sacrificed a defender for a 3-4-3 formation. However, this led to a decent spell of resistance from Cook Islands, finally ended in the 85th minute when Kaltak poked a shot into the roof of the net. From kick-off Vanuatu attacked and got another through a fizzing low strike from Namatak. A minute later and Vanuatu had a penalty. Kaltak stepped up, but was denied his hat-trick by a good Jamieson save. It also denied Vanuatu double figures, as the match ended 9-1.
Solomon Islands vs. Vanuatu
However, we always knew this was the real crunch match of the group; it’s a shame it wasn’t the final one in the schedule. There are no surprises as Vanuatu keep the same XI, but Solomon Islands go with Donga over Kaua as the latter is still recovering from a knock.
Solomon Islands vs. Vanuatu
However, we always knew this was the real crunch match of the group; it’s a shame it wasn’t the final one in the schedule. There are no surprises as Vanuatu keep the same XI, but Solomon Islands go with Donga over Kaua as the latter is still recovering from a knock.
So, Vanuatu need any kind of win, although the more they win by the more Solomon Islands need to score against Cook Islands. The first chance, however, falls to Solomon Islands as Donga’s shot is parried by Milivojevic towards Guilherme, who is too good a finisher to pass up opportunities like those. Vakatalesau has been just as clinical, but fires over when played in by Kaltak. In the 24th minute a long ball catches Vanuatu out, and Guilherme is there to fire in a second. However, Vanuatu immediately have a lifeline when Waroi trips Vakatalesau in the box. Marshall steps up, and hits it low. Goalkeeper Phillip Mango (PHILLIP MANGO!) gets a glove on it, but it still goes in. Game on? Well, ten minutes later and Vanuatu have given away a penalty themselves. Incredibly, Molea steps up again... and even more incredibly, he has his high shot saved by Mikivojevic! It’s 2-1 at the break, and Vanuatu still have a long way to go.
Vanuatu start the half by weaving an attack resulting in Naka’s cross finding Shala at the far post. His header looks good, but thuds against the post and away. Solomon Islands try and bog the game down, and it works as there are few moments of note. Vakatalesau is struggling and is replaced by Lionetti. The sub plays Kaltak through, but his shot is well-held by Mango (MANGO!). However, Vanuatu immediately get the ball back into the box, and this time Kaltak powers a volley home to level the scores. Vanuatu have 19 minutes to find a winner, as Solomon Islands drop back into a defensive 4-1-4-1 shape, whilst Vanuatu shift to a 3-4-3. Donga has a big chance for Solomon Islands, his shot hits the post but he looks favourite to reach the rebound until Sale sticks out a boot. However, Vanuatu cannot create chances of their own and the final score of 2-2 does them virtually no good whatsoever.
Cook Islands vs. Solomon Islands
With Solomon Islands only needing a point against a side with a -19 goal difference from three games, there isn’t too much tension left in the group, so I will just give brief details of the game.
This initially appeared to be a mistake, as Paul Luiz van Eijk gave Cook Islands a lead in the 24th minute, but a minute later and Donga had equalised. It took Solomon Islands another 20 minutes to take the lead, when Guilherme added to his collection with a classic poacher’s goal. In the second half Solomon Islands were awarded a penalty, and of course it was Molea who stepped up. Despite risking a fourth missed penalty in four games, he blasted it high and found the roof of the net. From then on Solomon Islands were more relaxed, and grabbed another four goals, including two more to complete Molea’s hat-trick.
Cook Islands vs. Solomon Islands
With Solomon Islands only needing a point against a side with a -19 goal difference from three games, there isn’t too much tension left in the group, so I will just give brief details of the game.
This initially appeared to be a mistake, as Paul Luiz van Eijk gave Cook Islands a lead in the 24th minute, but a minute later and Donga had equalised. It took Solomon Islands another 20 minutes to take the lead, when Guilherme added to his collection with a classic poacher’s goal. In the second half Solomon Islands were awarded a penalty, and of course it was Molea who stepped up. Despite risking a fourth missed penalty in four games, he blasted it high and found the roof of the net. From then on Solomon Islands were more relaxed, and grabbed another four goals, including two more to complete Molea’s hat-trick.
Final standings
Top scorer: Guilherme (SOL) 7 goals
Highest average rating: Guilherme (SOL) 8.68
Next time
So, Solomon Islands progress to the final stage of Oceanic qualifying, where they will contest a two-legged play-off. From our lowest-profile continent to the highest, as next time we go back to Europe to see a third team qualify for the finals. The group contains 2017 semi-finalists Italy, as well as Turkey. It’s hard to see these two not pick up the top two spots, but we’ve seen plenty of shocks so far!
Highest average rating: Guilherme (SOL) 8.68
Next time
So, Solomon Islands progress to the final stage of Oceanic qualifying, where they will contest a two-legged play-off. From our lowest-profile continent to the highest, as next time we go back to Europe to see a third team qualify for the finals. The group contains 2017 semi-finalists Italy, as well as Turkey. It’s hard to see these two not pick up the top two spots, but we’ve seen plenty of shocks so far!