1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)

Listed below are the dates and results for the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the Oceanian zone (OFC). For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification.

A total of 10 teams entered the competition. The Oceanian zone was allocated 0.5 places (out of 32) in the final tournament.

There would be three rounds of play:

First round

Melanesian Group

Rank Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Papua New Guinea 21103214
2  Solomon Islands 20202202
3  Vanuatu 201123-11

16 September 1996
Papua New Guinea  1 1  Solomon Islands
Daniel  15' (report) Rukumana  71'

18 September 1996
Solomon Islands  1 1  Vanuatu
Berry  16' (Report) Naukoot  37'

20 September 1996
Papua New Guinea  2 1  Vanuatu
Furigi  88'
Karang  89'
(report) Garo  27'

Papua New Guinea advanced to the Second Round. Solomon Islands advanced to the First Round Play-off.

Polynesian Group

Rank Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Tonga 22003036
2  Western Samoa 21012203
3  Cook Islands 200214-30

11 November 1996
Tonga  2 0  Cook Islands
Moleni  20', 67' (report)
Nukuʻalofa, Tonga

13 November 1996
Western Samoa  2 1  Cook Islands
Tapunuu  10'
Palusami  20'
(report) Stenter  68'
Nukuʻalofa, Tonga

15 November 1996
Tonga  1 0  Western Samoa
Vane  29' (report)
Nukuʻalofa, Tonga

Tonga advanced to the First Round Play-off.

Play-off

15 February 1997
Tonga  0 4  Solomon Islands
(report) Kiriau  34'
Seni  73'
Berry  85'
Peli  87'
Nukuʻalofa, Tonga

1 March 1997
Solomon Islands  9 0  Tonga
Berry  3', 41', 57'
Rukumana  12'
Wabo  37'
Seni  61', 63', 74'
Kiriau  66'
(report)

Solomon Islands advanced to the Second Round by the aggregate score of 13-0.

Second round

Group 1

Rank Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  Australia 44002622412
2  Solomon Islands 4112721-144
3  Tahiti 4013212-101

11 June 1997
Australia  13 0  Solomon Islands
Mori  2', 15', 36', 65', 80'
Aloisi  33', 53', 81', 86', 87'
Foster  68'
Tapai 78'
Bosnich  88' (pen.)
(report) S.Daudau Red card 52'
Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 3,127
Referee: Bruce Edward Grimshaw (New Zealand)

13 June 1997
Australia  5 0  Tahiti
Vidmar  14'
Trimboli  37', 42'
Arnold  47'
Bingley  66'
(report)
Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 2,869
Referee: Brian Geoffery Precious (New Zealand)

15 June 1997
Solomon Islands  4 1  Tahiti
Seni  37'
Berry  39', 80'
Toata  89'
(report) Ludivion  82'
Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 253
Referee: Neil Fox (New Zealand)

17 June 1997
Solomon Islands  2 6  Australia
Rukumana Red card 44'
Peli  59'
Suri  65'
Rukumana Red card 73'
(report) Slater  15'
Arnold  17'
Kaierea  38' (o.g.)
Tapai  47', 51'
Vidmar  75' (pen.)
Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 2,122
Referee: Brian Geoffery Precious (New Zealand)

19 June 1997
Tahiti  0 2  Australia
(report) Zelic  8'
Trimboli  86'
Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 2,918
Referee: Bruce Edward Grimshaw (New Zealand)

21 June 1997
Tahiti  1 1  Solomon Islands
Rousseau  38' (report) Kwaomae  43'
A.Peli Red card 50'
Sydney, Australia
Referee: Bruce Edward Grimshaw (New Zealand)

Australia advanced to the Final Round.

Group 2

Rank Team Pld W D L GF GA GD width

Pts

1  New Zealand 4301131129
2  Fiji 420247-36
3  Papua New Guinea 4103211-93

31 May 1997
Papua New Guinea  1 0  New Zealand
Niakuam  80' (report)
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Nik Ahmad Haji Yaakub (Malaysia)

7 June 1997
Fiji  0 1  New Zealand
(report) Jackson  80' (pen.)
Ba, Fiji
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Eugene Brazzale (Australia)

11 June 1997
New Zealand  7 0  Papua New Guinea
Coveny  10', 13', 67'
Rufer  22', 31'
Elliott  40'
Stevens  80'
(report)
Auckland, New Zealand
Referee: Eddie Lennie (Australia)

15 June 1997
Fiji  3 1  Papua New Guinea
Pita  22'
Masinisau  26'
Duguga  89'
(report) Waiwai  68'

18 June 1997
New Zealand  5 0  Fiji
Rufer  17', 77'
Coveny  63'
Viljoen  80'
van Steeden  85'
(report) Lomu Red card 51'
Auckland, New Zealand
Attendance: 12,033
Referee: Massimo Raveino (Tahiti)

21 June 1997
Papua New Guinea  0 1  Fiji
(report) Driu  1'
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Referee: Pirom Anprasert (Thailand)

New Zealand advanced to the Final Round.

Final round

28 June 1997
New Zealand  0 3  Australia
Jackson Red card 67' (report) Aloisi  18'
Vidmar  42'
Foster  67'
Auckland, New Zealand
Attendance: 23,000
Referee: Masayoshi Okada (Japan)

5 July 1997
Australia  2 0  New Zealand
Zelic  6'
Arnold  54'
(report)
Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 14,045
Referee: Jamal Al Sharif (Syria)

Australia advanced to the AFC / OFC Intercontinental Play-off by the aggregate score of 5-0.

Goalscorers

7 goals
6 goals
5 goals

  • Solomon Islands Robert Seni

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

  • Solomon Islands George Kiriau
  • Solomon Islands Augustine Peli

1 goals

  • Samoa T. Tapunuu
  • Solomon Islands Moses Toata
  • Solomon Islands Batram Suri
  • Solomon Islands Danny Wabo
  • French Polynesia Jean Ludivion
  • French Polynesia Jean-Loup Rousseau
  • Tonga Tolutau Vane
  • Vanuatu Reginal Garo
  • Vanuatu Iau Tuan Naukoot

1 own goal

External links