In this episode we get our final continent underway: Oceania. This is the format for qualifying here:
As we cover Rounds 1 & 2, we effective cover the whole of qualifying, with the exception of the final play-off.
Oceania sees two new sides this year: Australia are moved back here from Asia, whilst Kiribati are DWC debutants. Here's the draw for Round 1:
Oceania sees two new sides this year: Australia are moved back here from Asia, whilst Kiribati are DWC debutants. Here's the draw for Round 1:
Round 1 Group A (Australia, Fiji, American Samoa, Samoa, Kiribati)
This group sees both newcomers, as well as both Samoan teams.
Australia started how they meant to go on, with a 5-0 win over Samoa, whilst Kiribati's DWC debut was a 2-0 defeat to the same opponents. Australia won their first three games by an aggregate of 15-1, although a draw with Fiji dented their record and put their opponents in second place at the halfway stage.
This group sees both newcomers, as well as both Samoan teams.
Australia started how they meant to go on, with a 5-0 win over Samoa, whilst Kiribati's DWC debut was a 2-0 defeat to the same opponents. Australia won their first three games by an aggregate of 15-1, although a draw with Fiji dented their record and put their opponents in second place at the halfway stage.
That draw seemed to slow Australia up. They could only beat Samoa 1-0, and followed it with a goalless draw against bottom side American Samoa, then drew 1-1 with Fiji for a second time. Fiji, meanwhile had beaten American Samoa and Kiribati to ensure that they and Australia were safely through with a game to spare. In that final match, Australia hammered Kiribati 6-0 to ensure they at least won the group.
Final table:
Final table:
Round 1 Group B (Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, Cook Islands)
In theory, this appears to be the most open group on paper. Vanuatu are top seeds, despite losing in the first round in last year's Oceanic qualifying.
And halfway in, with 3 points separating the whole group, the notion that this would be a close group appears correct. In fact, had Vanuatu been able to find a winner in their draw with New Caledonia, all teams would be on exactly 5 points.
In theory, this appears to be the most open group on paper. Vanuatu are top seeds, despite losing in the first round in last year's Oceanic qualifying.
And halfway in, with 3 points separating the whole group, the notion that this would be a close group appears correct. In fact, had Vanuatu been able to find a winner in their draw with New Caledonia, all teams would be on exactly 5 points.
In the second half of the group, Papua New Guinea scored late on to beat leaders New Caledonia 2-1. New Caledonia responded with 2 wins and a draw in their remaining games to get through, and they were joined by Papua New Guinea who drew two and won one of their remaining three games to pip New Caledonia on goal difference.
Final table:
Final table:
Round 1 Group C (New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Micronesia)
New Zealand are the obvious favourites here, and - like Australia - anything less than an easy qualification would be a failure. Solomon Islands made the Oceanic play-off in 2017, and will hope to get through here.
Indeed, New Zealand won each of their opening 4 games, whilst Solomon Islands won the 3 that weren't against New Zealand. With the remaining teams taking points off each other, this put the two favourites in a commanding position halfway in.
New Zealand are the obvious favourites here, and - like Australia - anything less than an easy qualification would be a failure. Solomon Islands made the Oceanic play-off in 2017, and will hope to get through here.
Indeed, New Zealand won each of their opening 4 games, whilst Solomon Islands won the 3 that weren't against New Zealand. With the remaining teams taking points off each other, this put the two favourites in a commanding position halfway in.
This pattern continued in the second half of the campaign - New Zealand beating everyone and Solomon Islands beating the rest. The two sides qualified with ease, leaving the main race being over who would win the group's top scorer. In the end, Solomon Islands' Tony Kaltack finished 2nd with 11 goals, 6 behind New Zealand's former Sheffield Wednesday man Gary Hooper.
Final table:
Final table:
Below is the summary of how Round 1 went:
With the exception of New Caledonia finishing ahead of Vanuatu, qualification went entirely along the lines of ranking. The qualifying teams are then drawn into 2 groups of 3, with teams from the same Round 1 group kept apart:
Round 2 Group A (New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea)
This looks to be quite an interesting group. Fiji pushed Australia hard in Round 1, whilst Papua New Guinea (PNG) made last year's Oceanic play-off.
Fiji asserted themselves as the main challenger to New Zealand by confidently beating PNG 3-0.
Fiji would have been emboldened to see New Zealand struggle against PNG, requiring David Browne's header for a 2-1 victory.
New Zealand's other goalscorer against PNG was Hooper, and both he and Browne were on the scoresheet again as they beat Fiji 2-0 to take the lead halfway into the group.
This looks to be quite an interesting group. Fiji pushed Australia hard in Round 1, whilst Papua New Guinea (PNG) made last year's Oceanic play-off.
Fiji asserted themselves as the main challenger to New Zealand by confidently beating PNG 3-0.
Fiji would have been emboldened to see New Zealand struggle against PNG, requiring David Browne's header for a 2-1 victory.
New Zealand's other goalscorer against PNG was Hooper, and both he and Browne were on the scoresheet again as they beat Fiji 2-0 to take the lead halfway into the group.
Fiji couldn't avoid to drop points in the return match against PNG, and they flew into a 2-0 lead. Nigel Dabinyaba pulled one back, but Fiji held on for the win.
This put the ball back in New Zealand's court as they hosted PNG. Former Newcastle United man Steven Taylor grabbed them an early goal, and a 3-0 win meant that New Zealand had a degree of security going into the final game.
Since the two teams had the exact same home and away results against PNG, for the final game in the group, Fiji are effectively playing a second leg having lost 2-0 in the first. They got back into it as Avinesh Suwamy put away a 6th minute penalty but New Zealand fired back, and goals from Browne and Taylor saw the favourites through with a 2-1 win.
This put the ball back in New Zealand's court as they hosted PNG. Former Newcastle United man Steven Taylor grabbed them an early goal, and a 3-0 win meant that New Zealand had a degree of security going into the final game.
Since the two teams had the exact same home and away results against PNG, for the final game in the group, Fiji are effectively playing a second leg having lost 2-0 in the first. They got back into it as Avinesh Suwamy put away a 6th minute penalty but New Zealand fired back, and goals from Browne and Taylor saw the favourites through with a 2-1 win.
Final table:
Round 2 Group B (Australia, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia)
Australia should get through this group, but they weren't fully convincing in Round 1, whilst New Caledonia are probably the underdogs.
Australia had a slight scare when a penalty allowed New Caledonia to get to 1-1 as the two met. However, two long-range strikes from Panagiotis Kone allowed Australia to pull away, eventually winning 4-1.
Two goals in 3 minutes saw Australia on the way to a simpler victory, even if by the same margin, as they overcame Solomon Islands 3-0.
This left the two underdogs to fight it out to stay alive in this group. The game looked to be heading to a goalless draw until Solomon Islands struck twice in the last 10 minutes. There was still time for Dick Kauma to pull one back, but New Caledonia couldn't prevent defeat.
Australia should get through this group, but they weren't fully convincing in Round 1, whilst New Caledonia are probably the underdogs.
Australia had a slight scare when a penalty allowed New Caledonia to get to 1-1 as the two met. However, two long-range strikes from Panagiotis Kone allowed Australia to pull away, eventually winning 4-1.
Two goals in 3 minutes saw Australia on the way to a simpler victory, even if by the same margin, as they overcame Solomon Islands 3-0.
This left the two underdogs to fight it out to stay alive in this group. The game looked to be heading to a goalless draw until Solomon Islands struck twice in the last 10 minutes. There was still time for Dick Kauma to pull one back, but New Caledonia couldn't prevent defeat.
A red card for New Caledonia gave them very little chance against Australia, and they promptly lost 4-0.
It was even worse for Solomon Islands, who finished with 11 men, but lost 6-0 to the Aussies. Bruno Fornaroli completed a very productive group with a hat-trick, bringing his tally to 6 from 4 games.
This meant Australia qualified with a game to spare. In the final dead rubber, New Caledonia finally got off the mark with a 2-1 win over Solomon Islands.
Final table:
It was even worse for Solomon Islands, who finished with 11 men, but lost 6-0 to the Aussies. Bruno Fornaroli completed a very productive group with a hat-trick, bringing his tally to 6 from 4 games.
This meant Australia qualified with a game to spare. In the final dead rubber, New Caledonia finally got off the mark with a 2-1 win over Solomon Islands.
Final table:
Round 2 overview:
So after all that, it was the two teams we all knew were going to get through, who have got through. New Zealand and Australia will contest a very tasty two-legged play-off to determine who represents Oceania at the glorious Intercontinental Play-Off.
Next time it's the 5th group from Europe, where England and Wales will resume their rivalry.
Next time it's the 5th group from Europe, where England and Wales will resume their rivalry.