2011 OFC Beach Soccer Championship

The 2011 OFC Beach Soccer Championship took place from February 23 to February 26, 2011,[1] in Papeete, Tahiti, It acted as a qualifier for the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. This was the third time the island had hosted the competition, following the 2006 and 2009 tournaments in Moorea. Only the winners of the tournament, Tahiti, qualified to play in the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. The Solomon Islands were the favorites, having won the last 3 other qualifying championships in 2006, 2007 and 2009,[2] but surprisingly lost in the final to Tahiti, despite beating them in the group stage. This means for the first time since 2005, the Solomon Islands will not be representing Oceania at the world cup.

2011 OFC Beach Soccer Championship
2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (OFC)
Tournament details
Host countryTahiti
Dates23–26 February 2011
Teams3 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions Tahiti (1st title)
Runners-up Solomon Islands
Third place Fiji
Tournament statistics
Matches played4
Goals scored36 (9 per match)
Attendance5,125 (1,281 per match)
Top scorer(s) James Naka
Robert Laua
Jo Dugucagi
(4 goals each)
Best player(s) James Naka
Best goalkeeper Jonathan Torohia
Fair play award Fiji

All matches were held at the new Jardin de Paofai complex in Papeete, which was opened on February 15, 2011.

Participating teams

Four teams decided to enter into the tournament to compete for the one spot in the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. These were the same nations who competed in the 2009 OFC Beach Soccer Championship.[3]

Unfortunately, due to a cyclone recently passing through the region,[4] the Vanuatu national team was stranded at their airport as they were about to leave for Tahiti to attend the tournament. As a result, they were forced to withdraw from the tournament.[5]

Group stage

The group stage was going to begin on February 22, but due to the cyclone which forced Vanuatu to withdraw, it commenced on February 23 with no rest day and consisted of each nation playing each other once in a single round-robin format.

All kickoff times are listed as Tahitian local time, (UTC-10).

Team Pld W W+ L GF GA GD Pts
 Solomon Islands 2200135+86
 Tahiti 210179−23
 Fiji 2002915−60
Solomon Islands 9 – 4 Fiji
Naka  4',  26'
Ne'e  6',  19',  32'
Laua  15',  22',  34'
Aisa  18'		 Report Dugucagi  10',  29'
Ratan  30'
Watkins  33'
Jardin de Paofai, Papeete
Attendance: 1 275
Referee: Alain Alick


Tahiti 6 – 5 Fiji
Lehartel  20'
Bennett  27'
Izal  28',  35'
Zaveroni  29'
Dunadamu (O.G)  33'		 Report Nair  14'
Raju  20'
Dugucagi  22',  34'
Dunadamu  36'
Jardin de Paofai, Papeete
Attendance: 1 450
Referee: Hugo Hebala


Tahiti 1 – 4 Solomon Islands
Tepa  34' Report Aisa  12'
Muri  12',  20'
Laua  32'
Jardin de Paofai, Papeete
Attendance: 1 000
Referee: Rajnish Dave

Tournament final
Solomon Islands 3 – 4 Tahiti
Muri  1'
Naka  28',  32'		 Report Tepa  5'
Izal  8'
Bennett  9'
Amau  24'
Jardin de Paofai, Papeete
Attendance: 1 400
Referee: Rajnish Dave

Winners
 (2011) FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
Qualification (OFC) Winners: 

Tahiti
First title

Awards
Best Player (MVP)
James Naka
Top Scorer(s)
James Naka Robert Laua Jo Dugucagi
4 goals
Best Goalkeeper
Jonathan Torohia
FIFA Fair Play Award
 Fiji

[6]

Team qualifying
Team
1st Place Tahiti

Top scorers

Final standings
Rank Team
1 Tahiti
2 Solomon Islands
3 Fiji

References
  1. "OFC Calendar". oceaniafootball.com. Archived from the original on 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  2. "Oceania's Qualifier has been confirmed: Tahití 2011". beachsoccer.com. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
  3. "Teams eye up beach glory". oceaniafootball.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-27. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  4. "Beach soccer kick off delayed". oceaniafootball.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  5. "Cyclone Atu strands Vanuatu team". oceaniafootball.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  6. "Tahiti stun favourites to qualify for FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup". beachsoccer.com. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
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