Tahiti is going to the Confederations Cup

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (AP) -Striker Steevy Chong Hue scored an 11th-minute goal as Tahiti beat New Caledonia 1-0 in the Oceania Nations Cup final Sunday, qualifying the Pacific nation for next year's Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Tahiti's victory over its French Polynesian neighbor retained its unbeaten record through five matches at the eight-team tournament.

Chong Hue scored when Jonathan Tehau flicked on a cross from his brother Lorenzo and the 22-year-old striker chested down the ball before driving his shot into the bottom corner.

Earlier, New Zealand beat the Solomon Islands 4-3 in the playoff for third and fourth. The top four teams qualify for the next round of Oceania World Cup qualifying.

Tahiti was the form team of the tournament, finishing atop Group A with a 10-1 win over Samoa, 4-3 win over New Caledonia and 4-1 win over Vanuatu.

New Caledonia finished second in the same pool, but reached the final when it shocked regional heavyweight New Zealand 2-0 in Friday's semifinals.

New Zealand represented the Oceania region at the 2010 World Cup finals and has been the dominant force in the widespread confederation since Australia quit to join the Asian confederation.

Chong Hue's well-taken goal was the tipping point of a hard-fought final. New Caledonia's best chance to equalize came in the 81st minute when Jacques Haeko chipped the ball into the path of Georges Gope-Fenepej, but the striker sent his shot wide of the back post.

Meanwhile, after leading 3-0 at halftime New Zealand needed a goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time to beat the Solomon Islands 4-3.

Bristol City striker Chris Wood scored a hat trick inside 20 minutes, finding the net in the 11th, 25th and 30th as New Zealand appeared to take control of the match in the first half.

But the home side fought back with two goals from Bertrand Totori and winger Himson Teleda to level the score at 3-3 in the 88th minute. New Zealand managed to clinch a face-saving victory when Shane Smeltz scored in stoppage time.

The third and final round of Oceania World Cup qualifying, involving home and away matches between the semifinalists from the Nations Cup, begins in September.

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