In a commanding display, New Zealand’s Chris Wood led his team to an impressive 8-0 victory over Samoa in the final Group B match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania Qualifiers. Wood’s remarkable performance included scoring a hat-trick, bringing his international goal tally to 41.
The match showcased New Zealand’s dominance, particularly against a Samoan team ranked 186th in the FIFA World Rankings, compared to the All Whites’ 91st position. Despite the scoreline, Samoa displayed resilience, especially in defense, making it challenging for New Zealand to find their rhythm early on.
New Zealand’s breakthrough came in the 24th minute thanks to Callum McCowatt, who capitalized on a deflected save. Just four minutes later, Wood scored his first goal from a deflected cross and added two more before half-time. After the break, New Zealand quickly regained control, with Wood scoring again and Marco Stamenic and Francis de Vries contributing to the score.
Elijah Just and Ben Waine added to the tally, with Waine netting a penalty in extra time to finalize the 8-0 scoreline.
New Zealand’s victory sets them up for a semi-final clash against Fiji, with high hopes of progressing further in the tournament. This result not only highlights the team’s strength but also marks an exciting phase for New Zealand football as they aim for success on the international stage.
Overall, this performance bodes well for the All Whites as they build momentum towards the semi-finals, demonstrating that they are capable of competing at a high level as they look forward to future challenges.
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