The All Whites began their pursuit of another OFC Nations Cup title in routine fashion at Port Vila's Freshwater Stadium on 18 June, comfortably accounting for the Solomon Islands 3-0 in their opening group fixture. Two Ben Waine goals inside the first eleven minutes effectively settled the game as a contest. His first, in the sixth minute, was sparked by Elijah Just, who latched onto a loose ball then lobbed it over the defence for the precocious striker, who held it up well before turning his marker and lashing a ten yard drive between Phillip Mango and his near post. Five minutes later, the game was up for the Solomon Islanders. Alex Rufer's raking angled ball from central midfield found Just careering down the right, from where he cushioned a first-time volley inside to Waine. He deftly volleyed home from ten yards - 2-0. Further All Whites goals were a frequent threat throughout the rest of the half. On the quarter-hour, Just and Costa Barbarouses worked a one-two on the right which resulted in the former delivering a cross just in behind Waine's run to the near post. Two minutes later, Just fizzed in a corner which picked out Finn Surman, whose header was greedily grabbed by Mango. This prompted a brief response from Jacob Moli's team, Allen Peter's charge downfield resulting in him bringing John Orobulu into play. His pass invited Gagame Feni to let fly, but his deflected twenty-yarder cleared the crossbar. Back came the All Whites, Tim Payne combining with Just on the right. The latter worked a one-two with Waine but saw his shot blocked by Javin Alick. Next it was Barbarouses' turn to create havoc, his right-wing raid resulting in a cross which picked out Ben Old, who got the better of Peter but not Mango, the goalkeeper turning his fierce shot round the post. Eleven minutes before half-time, Sam Sutton picked out Just's run through the inside left channel. The winger lured Mango out of goal, with the 'keeper enduring an untimely slip as he reached the edge of the goal area. Instantly, Just looked to exploit Mango's misfortune, picking out Waine with a measured cross. His header had "goal" written all over it until Mango, recovering from his misfortune, pulled off a fabulous save to deny the striker his hat-trick. The Solomons' next attack of note materialised in the 37th minute. Substitute Rafa Le'ai, introduced in place of the injured Peter, tore down the right and fired in a cross which deflected to safety off two defenders. There was no one in a yellow shirt in support, however, which was largely why the island nation was making little headway against the All Whites. They were so concerned with addressing their illustrious opponents' attacking threats that they left their own attackers isolated, so when they did mount an attack, and were in need of support, there was no one to call upon, and possession swiftly returned to Darren Bazeley's charges. The All Whites upped the ante in search of a third goal before the half-time whistle, but only after Rufer had been fortunate not to concede a penalty

when making no attempt to play the ball as Feni looked to make in-roads into the area after looking to work a one-two with Atkin Kaua. Referee David Yareboinen looked on the incident as an off-the-ball collision, but the reality was anything but. After Old rattled the side-netting upon working a one-two with Sutton in the 44th minute, the Solomons scrambled the ball to safety after Tyler Bindon, Old and Sutton had combined to deliver a cross for Waine which Mango fumbled, fortunately out of reach of the striker. With the last kick of the half, the All Whites increased their lead. Just's deep corner was headed goalwards by Surman. Mango parried it, but straight to Barbarouses, who swivelled to volley home from close range - 3-0. The latest marksman came close to doubling his own tally for the match three minutes into the second spell, Barbarouses battering a twenty-yarder narrowly over the bar after working a one-two with Old. The Solomons responded through Le'ai, who raced through the inside right channel only to produce a wild finish - certainly not what his team wanted, given defeat in this game would end their interests in the OFC Nations Cup, given they lost their opening group match to Vanuatu. Because of their situation, the Solomons were getting frustrated, and a few of their players were leaving the foot in a little too often. Referee Yareboinen wasn't policing the situation, however - there were a number of yellow cards he could have issued in this match, had he not been in such a lenient mood. After a rare All Whites attack saw Waine's bid to complete his hat-trick snuffed out by Alick, long-range attempts by Alick and David Supa summed up the Solomons' desperation to try to get back into the game. Their opponents were keeping them at arm's length, however, while trying to see out the rest of the contest without any issues arising. To be perfectly honest, the second half was a bit of a sleepwalk - the Solomons' goose was cooked by the combination of the two early goals and the cherry on the cake right on half-time. The All Whites nearly bagged a fourth in the shadows of the full-time whistle, Max Mata a stride away from getting on the end of a cross from Oskar Van Hattum, one of four debutants in this match, Jesse Randall, Lukas Kelly-Heald and Fin Roa-Conchie being the others. With the last kick of the game, the Solomons came desperately close to signing off with a goal, Le'ai rattling the post with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. But they were on their way home, with the All Whites booking their semi-final spot on the back of this routine 3-0 win. Solomons:     Mango; Peter (Le'ai, 34), Alick, Ohasio, Tahunipue (Supa, 46); David, Kaua (Oreinima, 66), Kofana (Tigi, 46), Feni; Nawo, Orobulu (booked, 25 (Irodao, 66)) All Whites:     Paulsen; Payne (Kelly-Heald, 76), Bindon, Surman, Sutton; Just (Van Hattum, 76), Rufer, Howieson (Conchie, 82), Old (Randall, 63); Barbarouses, Waine (Mata, 63) Referee:     David Yareboinen (Papua New Guinea)