NEW ZEALAND sealed top spot in the Oceania World Cup qualifying competition and moved through to the last stage by beating New Caledonia 3-1 in Noumea yesterday. The win maintained New Zealand's unbeaten record in the four-team qualifying phase and gave them an unassailable lead at the top with two games in hand.
The Oceania winners do not have automatic entry into the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa and New Zealand now face a two-leg play-off next year against the fifth-placed team from the Asia qualifying zone.
New Zealand striker Shane Meltz score
d twice in ten minutes midway through the second half to break a 1-1 deadlock after New Caledonia's Michel Hmae had cancelled out an early goal from the visitors.
By winning the group, New Zealand will represent Oceania at next year's Confederations Cup, which is also being staged in South Africa.
Fiji earlier won their first match of the final Oceania qualifying tournament when they beat Vanuatu 2-0 at Ba, with Salesh Kumar and substitute Maciu Dunadamu scoring the goals. New Zealand play New Caledonia again in Auckland on Wednesday before tackling Fiji in Lautoka on November 19. The Fijians also play away to Vanuatu on Wednesday but none of the remaining matches will have any bearing on the standings.
The only time New Zealand qualified for the World Cup was in 1982. Australia had dominated the Oceania division since but moved to Asia after the last World Cup in search of better competition and direct entry.
• Blackburn midfielder Vince Grella is a doubt for Australia's World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan after being ruled out of yesterday's friendly with Holland in Eindhoven.
While Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek says he has "no worries" about the result of the friendly meeting with Holland, the former South Korea coach has conceded Grella is likely to miss the trip to Tashkent for the opening World Cup qualifier on Wednesday. Grella suffered a calf injury in training and was seen on crutches on Friday.
"Vincenzo has had an MRI scan and it doesn't look good," Verbeek said. "It is going to be very difficult for him to be ready for Wednesday."
Defender Mark Milligan will not feature against the Dutch and has only a 50% chance to be available to face Uzbekistan, but Verbeek has declared Galatasaray midfielder Harry Kewell as "back".
Kewell endured an injury-plagued career at Liverpool before transferring to the Turkish league outfit in the summer.
"Harry is fit, Harry is ready, Harry is fresh," added Verbeek. "It is good to see him in the group."
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