OFC Nations Cup 2008 : New Zealand beats New Caledonia 3-1
NOUMEA, Sep. 6, 2008 (AMP) — 2008 : New Zealand defeated New Caledonia by a score of 3-1 (halftime: 1-0), in a OFC Nations Cup final round game (Final Tournament) on Saturday afternoon at the Numa Daly Stadium in Noumea.
Shane Smeltz scored dual goals
New Zealand dominated the first half thanks to a goal scored by defender Ben Sigmund in the 16th minute. Leading 1-0 at the break, the New Zealanders further widened their lead in the second period by scoring twice (Smeltz '65, '75).
The result put the New Zealander top of the group with 12 points. New Caledonia is second with 8 points. In their next game, New Zealand will meet second-placed New Caledonia at the Numa Daly Stadium on September 10, while New Caledonia will face New Zealand.
Fixtures and Results : Final Tournament
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Overview
New Caledonia at the OFC Nations Cup
- 4 appearances (first in 1973)
- 5 participations in the qualifications (first in 1973)
- Statistics: Third Place (1973, 1980)
New Zealand at the OFC Nations Cup
- 3 titles (1973, 1998, 2002)
- 8 appearances (first in 1973)
- 8 participations in the qualifications (first in 1973)
- Statistics: Champions (1973, 1998, 2002) Runners-up (2000)
- 6 September 2008
- 17:00
- Noumea
Final Tournament
| Team | Pts |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 12 |
| New Caledonia | 8 |
 Fiji | 4 |
 Vanuatu | 1 |
OFC Nations Cup History
Read on to know more on the history and origin of the Oceania Nations Cup.