New Caledonia Defeats Tahiti 3-0 to Reach Oceania World Cup Qualifying Final

New Caledonia Defeats Tahiti: New Caledonia's 36-year-old striker Georges Gope-Fenepej scored twice in his team's 3-0 win over Tahiti in an Oceania qualifying semifinal Friday which left it one step away from the 2026 World Cup.

The 14-year international veteran collected the rebound from captain Cesar Zeoula's saved shot in the 50th minute and delicately chipped the ball into the Tahiti goal from close range.

In the 75th, he launched a spectacular left-foot shot from 30 meters, catching the goalkeeper off his line. Substitute Lues Waya added to the scoring in stoppage time as New Caledonia advanced to the Oceania qualifying final against the winner of Friday's later semifinal between New Zealand and Fiji.

Also Read: False Class 12 Medical Verifications Exposed: PSEB Officer Among 4 Booked

“We're all obviously football fans so to see someone like Georges play and the display he put on today is absolutely magnifique and wonderful,” New Caledonia coach Johann Sidaner said.

The winner of the Oceania qualifying series will gain direct entry to the World Cup for the first time. That means the victor in Monday's final in Auckland, New Zealand will join hosts Canada, the United States and Mexico and Japan, which on Thursday became the first nation to qualify for the 48-team tournament.

The loser of the Oceania final will still have a chance to qualify through an intercontinental playoff.

It felt like a goal was coming and it didn’t take long into the second-half for the deadlock to be broken. Tahiti’s slackness at the back allowed New Caledonia to break through and after Teamotuaitau made an initial smothering save from Zeoula, talismanic forward Georges Gope-Fenepej was on hand with a delightful chipped effort to find the net despite a recovering defender.

Also Read: Meerut Woman's Chilling Murder Plot: 'Lauki Kofta' Laced with Sedatives to Kill Merchant Navy Husband

The hot and humid conditions in Wellington appeared to be taking their toll in the second period, with a marked decrease in the pace and intensity from both sides.

New Caledonia continued to dominate possession however and were happy to spend the final half hour without their captain César Zeoula, who was removed just over the hour mark and replaced by Shene Welepane.

The win was confirmed with just under a quarter of an hour left on the lock. Gope-Fenepej picking the ball up halfway into Tahiti’s half, spotting Teamotuaitau off his line and lofting an inch-perfect effort over the ‘keeper and in to make it 2-0 and seal a place in Monday’s final for his side.

There was still time for a third in stoppage time. Substitute Lues Waya finding space on the edge of the area and his right-foot shot beat Teamotuaitau via a slight deflection to put the result beyond doubt. Tahiti’s task was made even harder when Pothin Poma was shown a straight red for the denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Also Read: Bank of Baroda Recruitment 2025: Last Date Today to Apply for 518 Professional Posts – Direct Link Here