Defeating lowly Tuvalu 12-0 today, the Solomon Islands sealed their qualification for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Brazil 2008.

The Solomons' task was made easier by Vanuatu's loss to Tahiti earlier in the day. Going into the final round of the qualifying tournament, held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, Vanuatu and the Solomons were tied at the top of the table with 12 points from five games. Vanuatu, however, came into the round with a goal difference of +22, in comparison to the Solomons' +10. Were they to defeat Tahiti, it looked certain that the Vanuatans would be on their way to Brazil. But Tahiti, in third place on 10 points, were in no mood to make things easy for their Francophone rivals.

The match between Vanuatu and Tahiti was a tight one. Fedy Vava of Vanuatu scored the opening goal from a counter-attack in the tenth minute, and Vanuatan hopes rose. Yet a handling error by Vanuatu's goalkeeper Daniel Mansale allowed Tahiti to equalise on 16 minutes. It was 1-1 at half-time.

The second half was tense and frenetic, as Vanuatu's Futsal team battled concurrently with their national football side, locked in a 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifier with New Caledonia back in Port Vila. Only a win would be good enough for the Futsal side, but as the half wore on, Tahiti gained the ascendancy, and they managed to score in the very last minute through Matana Bea to rub salt into Vanuatan wounds. Just prior to the goal, Vanuatu had suffered another blow when Ben Edward was sent off.

This left the Solomon Islands with the relatively straightforward task of disposing of Tuvalu, who had conceded a whopping 45 goals in their previous five games, all of which they had lost. When Elliot Rogomu and Micah Lea'alafa scored for the Solomons in the opening two minutes, everyone knew who would be going to Brazil.

The Solomons turned on the style to run out 12-0 winners, Lea'alafa scoring a hat-trick, and the Solomon Islands were crowned OFC Futsal champions, 2008. Tahiti's late win over Vanuatu netted them the silver medal, with a disappointed Vanuatu claiming bronze. Vanuatu's players could perhaps console themselves with the memory of their own 5-1 win over the eventual champions earlier in the tournament.

Key game
The foundation for the Solomons' eventual success was laid with their own victory over Tahiti on Friday, perhaps the tournament's key game. The Solomon Islands team was generally recognised as the most technically proficient at the event, but Tahiti had gained respect for their stamina and fighting qualities, and Solomons coach Victor Wai'ia was aware that his men would have their work cut out.

Nevertheless, Wai'ia's charges picked their way through the well-marshalled Tahitian defence to run out 4-2 winners. " Tahiti play at the same speed for the full 40 minutes and they are all very fast," remarked Wai'ia after the game. "I told the boys they would have no chance to slack off. They are very well organized in defence, and we tried to keep possession in the last 15 minutes to wear them down."

And so the Solomon Islands will represent the Oceania region at the FIFA Futsal World Cup, which will be held between September 30 and October 19 in Brazil.

The Solomon Islands will represent the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil in September after winning the OFC/Vodafone Futsal Championship in Suva tonight.

The Solomon’s only needed three points from their final game against Tuvalu after Tahiti defeated Vanuatu 2-1 in the opening game of the day.

They finished it off in style with a 12-0 win and earned a birth at their first ever FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Micah Lea’alafa led the way with four goals while Elliot Ragomo, Jack Wetney and Francis Lafai scored two apiece. James Egeta and Alfred Punguika completed the rout with late goals.

Tahiti leapfrogged Vanuatu into second place and the silver medal with another inspirational performance, coming from behind to snatch the win in the last minute.

The wild celebrations of the Tahitians were in sharp contrast to the tears of the Vanuatu side who narrowly missed out on their world cup dream.

Fedy Vava opened the scoring in the 5th minute for Vanuatu before Michael Mahuri equalised just before halftime. Matana Bea snuck the winner in the final minute of the match and sent the Tahitian party into a celebrating frenzy.

Fiji collected their third win in the final match of the tournament with a 4-1 victory over New Zealand.

Fiji opened the scoring in the 31st minute when the tournaments golden boot – Kamal Hassan potted his 14th goal of the tournament.

New Zealand equalized in the 37th minute when Joshua Martin found the net before Assis Chand grabbed two goals in the space of a minute to turn the game back in Fiji’s favour. Muni Arvindra Naidu killed the game off with a goal in the last minute.

 Les îles Salomon représenteront la Confédération Océanienne de Football d'Océanie (OFC) à la Coupe du monde FIFA de Futsal au Brésil en septembre prochain, après avoir gagné ce soir le championnat de l’OFC au Vodafone Arena de Suva à Fidji.

Seules trois points étaient nécessaires aux Salomon pour ce dernier match contre Tuvalu, après que Tahiti ont battu le Vanuatu 2-1 dans le match d'ouverture.

Ils ont en fait assuré le spectacle avec une victoire 12-0 et ont gagné leur baptème dans une Coupe du monde FIFA de Futsal.

Micah Lea'alafa a assuré le score avec quatre buts tandis qu'Elliot Ragomo, Jack Wetney et Francis Lafai marquait deux fois chacun. James Egeta et Alfred Punguika a complété le score avec un but également.

Tahiti a franchi l’obstacle du Vanuatu pour la seconde place et conquit la médaille d'argent avec une nouvelle performance, conclut par un but à la dernière minute.

Le Haka sauvage des Tahitiens contrastait avec les larmes du côté de Vanuatu qui venaient de perdre leur rève de Coupe du Monde..

Fedy Vava a ouvert la marque à la cinquième minute pour le Vanuatu avant que Michael Mahuri égalise juste avant la mi-temps. Matana Bea arracha la victoire à la dernière minute, avant une célébration de folie de tout le camp tahitien.

Fidji a assurée sa troisième victoire dans le dernier match du tournoi avec une victoire 4-1 sur la Nouvelle Zélande.

Fidji a ouvert la marque à la 31ième minute par le meilleur scoreur du tournoi Kamal Hassan, qui inscrit là son quatorzième but.

La Nouvelle Zélande égalisa à la 37ième minute par Joshua Martin, juste avant que Assis Chand marque deux buts en l’espace d’une minute pour définitivement donner la victoire à Fidji. Muni Arvindra Naidu clôtura le score avec un but lointain à la dernière minute.

OFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STANDINGS

Championship Golden Boot

No          Name                  Team                     Goals

9            Kamal HASSAN      FIJ                         14

9            Micah Lea’alafa     SOL                       12

10          Jack Vira Ala          VAN                         9

14          Bakr Al Saudi        NZL                           9

3            Elliot Ragomo       SOL                         8

OFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2008

VANUATU vs TAHITI

VODAFONE ARENA

SUVA

FIJI

SATURDAY 14 JUNE

TAH: 1. Rehia DAVIO (gk); 3. Jimmy RIARIA; 4. Romeo PATIRA; 6. Michel MAIHURI; 10. Usiera PUKOKI.

SUBS: 2. Matana BEA; 5. Lysis TAUHA; 7. Steeven TINO; 8. Tetuanui TINOMOE; 9. Iorama BEA; 11. Amau TETUANUI; 12. Fernand TUANUA (rgk)

COACH: Rani BEA (TAH)

VAN: 1. Chikau MANSALE (gk); 3. Ben EDWARD; 5. Fedy VAVA; 6. Derek MALAS; 10. Jack Vira ALA.

SUBS: 2. Terry QUARE; 4. Lui SIFAS; 7. Ben HUNGAI; 8. Louis DOMINQUE; 9. Siardon Mera TALKANAMAL; 11. Saen Wowut FANAI; 22. Daniel MANSALE (rgk).

REFEREE: Scott KIDSON (AUS)

2nd REFEREE: Rajnish DAVE (FIJ)

3rd REFEREE: Amitesh BEHARI (FIJ)

OFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2008

SOLOMON ISLANDS vs TUVALU

VODAFONE ARENA

SUVA

FIJI

SATURDAY 14 JUNE

SOL: 1. Alick LIOKA; 3. Elliot RAGOMO; 7. James EGETA; 9. Micah LEA'ALAFA; 12. Jack WETNEY.

SUBS: 2. Philip HOUTARAU; 4. Alfred PUNGUIKA; 5. Jenan KAPU; 6. Moffat SIKWA'AE; 8. Francis LAFAI; 11. Ron GINIO; 13. Stanley PUAIRANA (rgk)

COACH: Victor WAI'IA

TUV: 22. Starchel SOLOSENI; 2. Felo FEOTO; 5. Mau PENINSULA; 8. Peniuna KAITU; 11. Imo FIAMALUA.

SUBS: 3. Tioti Maati TOAFA; 6. Paitela KELEMENE; 17. Neemia ONOSEMU; 19. Mahaga TEIAPUTI; 21. Maio ETIMANI.

COACH: Sami NEEMIA (TUV)

REFEREE: Francois TROLLIARD (NCL)

2nd REFEREE: Chris COLLEY (AUS)

3rd REFEREE: Allan ALICK (VAN)

OFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP FIJI 2008

FIJI v NEW ZEALAND

VODAFONE ARENA

SUVA

FIJI

SATURDAY 14 JUNE

FIJ: 2. Mira SAHIB; 3. Sandeep Sanjesh NAIR; 6. Assis CHAND; 9. Kamal HASSAN;12. Nishad Wasim ALI (GK);

SUBS: 1. Azmat BEGG (RGK);  8. Muni Arvindra NAIDU; 10. Dinesh Chand MUDALIAR; 11. Imtiaz BEGG;

COACH:  Imtiaz KHAN (FIJ)

ABSENT: 4. Alvin AVINESH; 5. Nayzal Siga Ali; 7. Vikash PRASAD;

NZL: 3. Andrew GWILLIAM; 4. Marvin EAKINS; 8. Joshua MARTIN; 19. Michael CORRINGHAM; 20. Clayton CHAPPELL (GK);

SUBS: 1. Elias BILLEH (GK); 5. Yukin NAIDOO; 12. Luke FIELD; 17. Victor ZAIA; 23. Gregory O’CONNOR; 10. Ouadhah RAGUED; 14. Bakr Al SAUDI;

GOALS: 8. Joshua MARTIN 9’, 17. Victor ZAIA 27’; 14. Bakr Al SAUDI 35’;

COACH: Erkin Osman (AUS)

REFEREE: Teihotu TAEREA (TAH)

2nd REFEREE: Peter L. PAKOATONG (VAN)

3rd REFEREE: Stephan PARAGE (NCL)