MELBOURNE, 2 June 2004 — Second-half substitute Mile Sterjovski scored a hat trick as Australia thrashed Tahiti 9-0 in their World Cup Oceania zone second stage playoff in Adelaide on Monday.
In other matches, New Zealand beat the Solomon Islands 3-0 and Veresa Toma scored in the 74th minute in Fiji’s 1-0 win over Vanuatu. Sterjovski scored the first three goals of his international career including one while lying on his back as the home side slammed home six goals in the second half.
Tim Cahill, who played for Millwall against Manchester United in the FA Cup final on May 22, scored the first two goals of his Socceroos career in his second match for Australia.
New Zealand’s Duncan Oughton and Aaran Lines scored in the final 10 minutes of the match against the Solomon Islands who were more competitive than the scoreline indicated.
Brent Fisher gave the All Whites a 1-0 lead at halftime after his goal was set up by a cross from skipper Simon Elliott in the 36th minute.
Australia lead the standings after their 1-0 win over New Zealand on Saturday.
The Socceroos and the All Whites are expected to progress to the third stage of the Oceania playoffs in September 2005 for the right to challenge the fifth-ranked South American team for a place in the 2006 World Cup.
Nigeria Beat Jamaica 2-0 in London Friendly
Goals from John Utaka and Bartholomew Ogbeche earned Nigeria a 2-0 win over Jamaica on Monday, preserving their unbeaten record in the second of three international friendlies at Charlton Athletic’s London ground.
Ogbeche, 21, had scored twice in Nigeria’s 3-0 victory against Ireland on Saturday and he completed Nigeria’s domination of the round-robin Unity Cup tournament with a 55th-minute goal against Jamaica.
Jamaica began impressively, with Ricardo Gardner forcing Sunday Rotimi’s first save of the afternoon in the third minute. However, as the game progressed, they failed to convert a series of chances into goals.
Nigeria were more ruthless, Utaka putting them 1-0 ahead in the 17th minute after running out right, beating a defender and firing low across the goal to defeat keeper Ian Goodison.
Utaka set up Nigeria’s second, charging from the halfway line in a counterattack before passing the ball to Ogbeche who then lobbed Goodison.
Paul Obiefule almost made it 3-0 in the last minute of extra time, when he ran against a retreating defense before firing a shot into the right post. Frustrated Jamaica picked up three yellow cards to Nigeria’s one.
The Unity Cup, whose sides all have large London communities, finishes today when Ireland play Jamaica.
Vitesse Retain Dutch First Division Place
In Amsterdam, Vitesse Arnhem retained their place in the Dutch first division on Monday after securing a 1-1 draw in their promotion/relegation playoff. Vitesse cannot be caught at the top of Group A with one match remaining after second-placed Sparta Rotterdam were held 2-2 by Helmond Sport.
With Volendam relegated, the remaining place in the first division next season will go to either Heracles Alamo, Graafschap Doetinchem or Excelsior Rotterdam.
Heracles Almelo and Graafschap Doetinchem are level on 10 points at the top of Group B, with Excelsior back on eight with one match left. Graafschap overcame Volendam 3-0 to keep their promotion bid alive while Heracles and Excelsior drew 2-2.
Tomorrow Heracles will visit Volendam, while Excelsior entertain Graafschap.
