World Cup Qualifying Review: Tahiti thrash Samoa

Tahiti began their defence of the OFC Nations Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Samoa, in day two of the second round of Oceania qualifying for World Cup 2018.

Teaonui Tehau scored twice inside the first five minutes to give Ludovic Graugnard s side an excellent start, steering home a clinical finish before heading in from a corner.

Steevy Chong Hue blasted in a fine volley with just a quarter of an hour played, before Alvin Tehau, who earlier had a goal ruled out for offside, curled in from the edge of the area to seal the win ahead of the interval.

Papua New Guinea held on for a 1-1 draw with New Caledonia in the earlier match after being reduced to 10 men.

Tommy Semmy converted Emmanuel Simon s fine throughball to put the hosts ahead after 41 minutes, but the goalscorer picked up a second booking after the break to leave his side up against it.

Jean-Philippe Saiko, who saw a goal disallowed for offside in the first half, volleyed in the equaliser with six minutes to play, but the 2012 Nations Cup runners-up spurned the chance to take all three points in the dying moments when Cesar Zeoula crashed his penalty off the crossbar.

The winner of the tournament – which doubles as the second stage of qualifying for Russia 2018 – will represent Oceania in the Confederations Cup next year, while the three other best-placed teams of the two groups will advance to round three of the World Cup preliminaries.

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