June 6, 2001 SportsLine.com wire reports

AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Late arrival Vaughan Coveny scored three times Wednesday as New Zealand beat Tahiti 5-0 in an Oceania Group Two World Cup qualifying match.

In Wednesday's other match, Vanuatu rebounded from a 6-1 loss to Tahiti in its opening game to beat the Cook Islands 8-1 as Richard Iwai scored four goals.

The group winner will play Australia for the Oceania championship later this month.

Coveny was the last player to join the New Zealand squad, arriving late Monday after playing for South Melbourne in the Australian National League final Sunday. His appearance Wednesday was his first for New Zealand in two years, and he was New Zealand's outstanding performer, testing the Tahiti defense with well-timed runs or accurate passes.

He opened New Zealand's scoring in a rugged match with a penalty kick after 39 minutes for a 1-0 halftime lead. Coveny made the pass that led to Aaran Lines' goal in the 53rd minute, then took a pass from Lines and drew out the goalkeeper to score his second three minutes later.

Coveny completed his hat trick with a header in the 71st minute.

In the other match, Iwai's first opened the scoring for Vanuatu in the fifth minute. The Cook Islands responded 10 minutes later with the goal of the match.

Junior Pukoku accepted an excellent long pass from Heath Dickensen, beat a defender and then the goalkeeper in a superb individual effort.

Vanuatu kept pressing forward and its pace put constant pressure on the Cook Islands defense.

Simon Lauru knocked the ball home in the 27th minute after a messy goalmouth scramble, and 12 minutes later a handball in the Cook Islands box resulted in a penalty kick, which Gerard Maki converted.

It only took Vanuatu five minutes after halftime to extend the advantage, with Iwai taking a long pass from Maki that he nudged past goalkeeper Troy Jamieson.

Iwai completed his hat trick with a deft chip over the goalkeeper in the 60th and scored again in the 66th.

R E L A T E D   L I N K S

Oceania World Cup Qualifying Standings World Cup 2002 Qualifying Results

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