Fiji wins 16-0 and Solomon Islands 12-1 as 2010 World
Cup qualifying begins
APIA, Samoa (AP) -- Qualifying for the 2010 World Cup began with a
pair of routs in soccer's Oceania region.
Fiji beat Tuvalu 16-0 and Solomon Islands defeated American Samoa
12-1 on Saturday. In other regional games, Vanuatu downed Samoa 4-0
and New Caledonia edged Tahiti 1-0.
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A record 204 teams entered qualifying, which runs through late 2009
and will produce 31 nations to join host South Africa in the
tournament, to be played from June 11 to July 11, 2010.
South America, Africa and Asia start play in October, ahead of the
World Cup qualifying draw on Nov. 25 in Durban, South Africa. The
United States received a first-round bye in the North and Central
American and Caribbean region and likely will start play next
June.
In Oceania, the South Pacific Games double as early qualifying,
with the top three teams in this tournament advancing to a
second-round group with New Zealand, the remaining power in the
region following Australia's move to the Asian Football
Confederation. The second-round winner meets Asia's No. 5 team in a
home-and-home playoff for a World Cup berth.
Osea Vakatalesau scored six goals for Fiji, Pita Rabo three and Roy
Krishna two. In the other Group A match, New Calendonia won on
Pierre Wajoka's ninth-minute penalty kick, and Tahiti finished a
man short when midfielder Jose Hmae was ejected.
In Group B, Commins Menapi scored four goals for Solomon Islands
against American Samoa, and Benjamin Totori and Stanley Waita had
two each. In an April 2001 qualifier, Australia set a scoring
record with a 31-0 rout on American Samoa. Vanuatu scored two goals
in each half against Samoa.
Fiji plays the Cook Islands in one of four games Monday, while the
Solomons play Tonga, Tuvalu takes on New Caledonia and American
Samoa meets Samoa. The top two teams in each group advance to the
tournament semifinals Sept. 5.
