The All Whites recorded their biggest ever victory over New Caledonia in their Oceania World Cup qualifying series encounter at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on March 24, thrashing their Pacific Island rivals 7-1 to set up a semi-final encounter with Tahiti in three days' time. Danny Hay's charges were swiftly into their stride in their final group encounter, dominating possession from the outset, and it was no surprise to see them opening the scoring in the seventh minute. Matt Garbett fed the lively Joey Champness on the right, and he gave fullback Jean-Brice Wadriako the runaround before delivering a delicious low cross into the goal area. Arriving on cue was Alex Greive, who marked his first start for his country - he made his debut as a last-minute substitute against Jordan in January - with a deft back-heeled finish, having been left completely unmarked by the New Caledonian defence. Dominique Wacalie's team responded well to this setback, so well, in fact, that they were on level terms five minutes later. Germain Haewegene's corner was cleared as far as Joris Kenon, whose first-time volleyed cross picked out the head of Jean-Philippe Saiko. He put everything into a superb headed goal, twisting his neck to provide the necessary power to direct the ball beyond diving debutant goalkeeper Jamie Searle and into the far corner of the net, a goal greeted with great delight by the New Caledonians, for whom this wasn't their only first half goal threat. Kenon partially blocked an attempted clearance by Searle in the 26th minute, soon after "The X" had produced a delightful eight-pass move which was only foiled by a poor final ball - had it been more accurate, they could well have taken a shock lead. For despite dominating possession, the All Whites engineered just one opening between the equaliser and Kenon's close call, a 23rd minute move which saw Francis de Vries and Callum McCowatt combine to release Logan Rogerson down the left to the by-line. From there, he picked out the unmarked figure of Champness arriving on the far post. The winger's shot was blocked by goalkeeper Jean-Gilles Hnamuko, with the clearance completed in spectacular fashion by the retreating figure of Joseph Athale, who was facing the wrong way but still managed to ensure the scoreline remained at 1-1. The All Whites continued to boss the game, and their patience paid off ten minutes before half-time when Greive was felled in the area by Vincent Vakie. Rogerson sent Hnamuko the wrong way from the penalty spot to restore New Zealand's lead. After Rogerson had headed over from six yards on receipt of a Champness cross, the All Whites extended their advantage on the stroke of half-time. Tommy Smith, captain for the day on the occasion of his fiftieth appearance in all matches for his country, had enjoyed pinging the ball round the park at every opportunity thus far, and on this occasion, he lobbed one up-field for Greive to exploit.

An untimely stumble by Vakie served the striker's cause well, Greive swiftly latching onto the ball when well clear of the defence before calmly tucking it beyond Hnamuko with the last meaningful kick of the half. The introduction of fresh legs around the hour mark brought the second half to life, the opening fifteen minutes having been somewhat turgid. Andre de Jong was swiftly brought into play by Smith's ball over the top for him to chase, but Hnamuko dashed out of his penalty area to head clear. New Caledonia's goalkeeper produced a fine block at close quarters to foil Greive in the 65th minute, after Garbett and Rogerson had combined to good effect. But Hnamuko and company had bigger problems than that to deal with six minutes later, as the All Whites unleashed the combined talents of Joe Bell, Liberato Cacace, Bill Tuiloma and Chris Wood upon proceedings for the final twenty minutes. They wasted little time in imposing their talents upon the match. Just four minutes after their appearance, the All Whites extended their lead to 4-1. Bell released Tim Payne down the right, and the fullback's cross picked out Wood. Hnamuko parried his shot, but Greive was on hand to tuck home the rebound in the 75th minute. Six minutes later, it was 5-1, Tuiloma's close-range header, upon receipt of a McCowatt corner to the far post, the source of the goal. Two more minutes were required for the All Whites' sixth goal to come about, Wood confidently firing home past Hnamuko after being released by de Jong's fine through ball. The pair combined again in the 89th minute, de Jong's delicious cross with the outside of his right foot inviting Wood to direct a downward header beyond the goalkeeper's reach, Bell having won the ball in midfield to create the opening. Further goals could have followed, with Garbett sending a twenty-yarder sizzling past the post after Cacace had gathered in a cross-field ball, while a clever angled pass from the fullback arrowed across the bows of Wood in the game's final attack, Vakie stepping in to prevent the substitute from having any chance of completing a quick-fire hat-trick. The New Caledonians had suffered enough, however, this 7-1 mauling from the All Whites the heaviest defeat they've endured at the hands of the New Zealanders, one which ended their hopes of World Cup glory on a day the All Whites confirmed their semi-final berth as first place-getters in the group. N. Caledonia:     Hnamuko; Athale, Kauma, Vakie, Wadriako (Piaa, 82); Haewegene (Neoere, 77 (booked, 86)), Sansot (booked, 39), Kenon (Waya, 69 (booked, 90)), Wakanumune (Rokuad, 82), Sele (Kai, 69); Saiko All Whites:     Searle; Payne, Boxall, Smith (Tuiloma, 71), de Vries (Cacace, 71); Garbett, McCowatt (booked, 24), Howieson (Bell, 71); Champness (de Jong, 61), Greive (Wood, 71), Rogerson Referee:     Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)