In a commanding performance, Chris Wood’s remarkable hat-trick propelled New Zealand to an overwhelming 8-0 victory against Samoa in the final Group B match of the FIFA World Cup 26 Oceania Qualifiers. This triumphant win reflects New Zealand’s strength as they look toward the next stages of the tournament.
Samoa, currently ranked 186th in the FIFA World Rankings, faced an uphill battle against the higher-ranked All Whites, who sit at 91st. From the start, New Zealand showcased their dominance, but they initially struggled to penetrate a surprisingly resilient Samoan defense. In a flurry of activity early on, Marko Stamenic tested Samoan goalkeeper Pele Fatu with three consecutive shots within the first five minutes, all of which Fatu skillfully saved.
The breakthrough for New Zealand came in the 24th minute when Callum McCowatt capitalized on a saved shot from Matt Garbett, scoring the opening goal of the match. Just four minutes later, Wood added his first goal, marking his 39th international strike, followed by his 40th just before the halftime interval. New Zealand went into halftime leading 3-0, but Samoan players remained resilient.
After a slow start to the second half, New Zealand quickly regained their dominance, with Wood volleying in his 41st international goal in the 60th minute. Marco Stamenic and Francis de Vries added further goals, with De Vries scoring a powerful volley for his first international goal. Elijah Just contributed to the tally, followed by a penalty from Ben Waine in the dying moments of the match, sealing the impressive victory.
Next, New Zealand will face Fiji, who finished as Group A runners-up, in the semi-finals scheduled for March. Meanwhile, New Caledonia and Tahiti will face off in the other semi-final.
This win not only highlights New Zealand’s prowess on the field but also sets a positive tone as they advance in the competition, looking to secure their spot in the World Cup.
Summary: New Zealand dominated Samoa with an 8-0 victory led by Chris Wood’s hat-trick in the FIFA World Cup 26 Oceania Qualifiers, setting them up for a semi-final against Fiji.
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