Qantas Futsalroos Qualify For World Championship

Australia have qualified for the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Vanuatu in the final match of the Oceania qualifying tournament at the AIS Arena in Canberra.

Australia have qualified for the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Vanuatu in the final match of the Oceania qualifying tournament at the AIS Arena in Canberra.

The Qantas Futsalroos went through the five match tournament undefeated without conceding a goal, however they were made to work hard to maintain that record by the unheralded Vanuatu side. Simon Keith-s second half goal enough to see off the challenge of the Pacific Islanders who went into the game needing to win by four goals to overhaul Australia at the top of the table on goal difference.

Earlier New Zealand went into their game against the win-less Samoans knowing they needed to hit double-figures if they were to have any chance of catching Australia on goal difference.   The New Zealanders were requiring a goal deluge virtually from the opening whistle, however it was Samoa that opened the scoring courtesy of an eighth minute own goal, before the Kiwis came back to hold a 3-1 half-time advantage.   Saudi Al Bakr completed a second half hat-trick, and with it equal second spot on the goalscoring list behind team-mate Nathan Robertson and alongside Vanuatu captain Derek Malas, as the match finished 6-2 to New Zealand.

Fiji ensured fourth place with their best result of the tournament, a 4-1 win over the Solomon Islands. Following their impressive performance against Australia just two days earlier, the Fijians were comfortable winners despite being 1-0 down to a Jerry Allen strike after just six minutes.   However goals to Simione Vesa (2), Michael Lee and Hussain Sahib ensured the traditional Polynesian powerhouse finished the tournament on a high.   The Solomons can take plenty of positives away from their first international Futsal tournament and despite a defence which leaked 31 goals in five games, showed plenty of the raw close skills for which they are renowned.

Australia finished the tournament on 15 points, ahead of New Zealand 12, Vanuatu 9, Fiji 6, Solomon Islands 3 and Samoa 0.

Australia who have competed in all four previous editions of the FIFA Futsal World Championship will represent Oceania at the 2004 tournament which will be held in Chinese Taipei from November 21 - December 5.