In an impressive display, Chris Wood led New Zealand’s national football team to a commanding 8-0 victory over Samoa in the final Group B match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania Qualifiers. Wood’s exceptional performance included a hat-trick, bringing his international goal tally to an impressive 41.
Despite Samoa’s lower FIFA ranking of 186th compared to New Zealand’s 91st, the match demonstrated resilience from the Samoan side as they managed to hold off New Zealand’s attempts for a significant portion of the first half. New Zealand’s dominance was evident as they relentlessly attacked, with Marko Stamenic forcing Samoan goalkeeper Pele Fatu to make several impressive saves early on.
The breakthrough for New Zealand came in the 24th minute with Callum McCowatt scoring the opener following a rebound from Fatu. Shortly after, Wood scored two goals, one from a deflected cross and another just before halftime.
Post halftime, New Zealand continued to assert their control, with Wood scoring his fourth in the 60th minute. They increased their lead with additional goals from Marco Stamenic, Francis de Vries, Elijah Just, and a penalty from Ben Waine to finalize the score at 8-0.
Looking ahead, New Zealand is set to compete against Fiji in the semi-finals next March, while New Caledonia and Tahiti will face off in the other semi-final. This victory not only highlights New Zealand’s strength in the tournament but also sets a positive tone as they advance in the qualifiers with a clean sweep of their group matches.
Overall, New Zealand’s outstanding performance reflects a powerful team spirit and a promising future as they continue their journey toward potential World Cup qualification. This match serves as a reminder of the thrilling possibilities that lie ahead for them in international football.
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