ALBANY, New Zealand -- The Solomon Islands
swamped the Cook Islands 9-1 and Tahiti overwhelmed Vanuata 6-1
in the opening World Cup qualifiers in the Oceania zone group
two series on Monday.
Patterson Daudau and Commins Menapi both hit hat-tricks for
the Solomon Islands, who cruised home after conceding a goal in
the fifth minute.
Naea Bennett scored a hat-trick for Tahiti, who avenged a
3-2 loss to Vanuatu last year in emphatic fashion.
Tahiti coach Patrick Jacquemet said that, with little
preparation for the tournament after the Tahitian season ended
three weeks ago, he was happy with the result before Wednesday's
match against hosts New Zealand, the fifth team in the group.
"There was satisfaction with the win firstly and the score
was doubly satisfying," Jacquemet said. "We were unsure how we
would do and the result was good preparation for New Zealand."
Tony Senechal gave Tahiti the lead in the 26th minute and
Bennett scored in the 35th and 41st minutes to put them 3-0 up
at halftime.
Harold Amaru made it 4-0 in the 53rd minute with a beautiful
lob from 40 metres over Vanuatu goalkeeper David Chillia.
Vanuatu pulled a goal back three minutes later through Simon
Lauru and the same player hit the crossbar a minute later.
Fight over
But the Vanuatu fight was over when Bennett hit his third in
the 80th minute. Felix Tagawa completed the rout a minute later.
Former Bordeaux youth player Samuel Garcia, one of seven
members of the 20-man Tahitian squad remaining from last year's
loss, was a thorn in the side of Vanuatu roaming on the right of
midfield.
The Cook Islands gave the Solomon Islands an early shock by
taking the lead after a dreadful defensive lapse by Gideon
Omokirio allowed Niki Te-Miha to slot home in the fifth minute.
But from then on it was the slick Solomons who ran the game
with their extra pace.
Batram Suri equalised for the Solomon Islands in the 13th
minute and Daudau and Menapi added further goals in the 18th and
30th minutes to put them 3-1 up at halftime.
Sydney United's Menapi scored his second in the 52nd minute
and the classy Daudau completed his hat-trick with goals in the
54th and 76th minutes.
The last 10 minutes were a nightmare for the Cooks as the
Solomons ran riot and scored in the 84th, 85th and 89th minutes
through David Furisua, Menapi and Henry Koto.
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