New Zealand will be facing New Caledonia in Qatar on Thursday as they aim to confirm a first-placed finish in their World Cup 2022 Qualifying group.
The hosts won their first two games, which means they simply need a point from the last match to finish top ahead of the final round of continental qualifying.
The All Whites headed into this World Cup Qualifying group as heavy favourites, and they made a winning start, defeating Papua New Guinea 1-0 courtesy of Ben Waine’s 75th-minute goal.
They then met Fiji on Monday, and Danny Hay saw his side strengthen their position in the group with a dominant 4-0 victory in Qatar.
Chris Wood put them ahead at the end of the first half, and he would again score alongside Elijah Just after the hour mark before Clayton Lewis converted an injury-time penalty.
That has left them at the summit of the group heading into the final game, and they will look to end with a perfect record to ensure they progress to the final round in first place.
Such a finish will see New Zealand given a favourable draw in the final stage against Group A’s runners-up, with their focus set on reaching a first World Cup since 2010.
The All Whites take on a New Caledonia side whose chances of progression have already disappeared after a losing start.
Coming in as underdogs, New Caledonia firstly met Fiji, and despite Jordan Wetria leveling the game at 1-1 in the 78th minute, they were eventually defeated as Sairusi Nalaubu scored his second of the game in the dying minutes.
Dominique Wacalie’s side then took on Papua New Guinea last time out, and they were again handed a narrow defeat as Tommy Semmy scored the only goal of the game inside the first 10 minutes.
New Zealand vs New Caledonia head to head
The two teams have previously met on eight occasions, where New Zealand have won eight while New Caledonia have won once, and they have drawn once. New Zealand have scored 20 goals and conceded five. In their last five meetings, New Zealand have won four while they have drawn once.
New Caledonia 0-5 New Zealand 07/07/15
New Zealand 1-0 New Caledonia 08/06/16
New Zealand 2-0 New Caledonia 12/11/16
New Caledonia 0-0 New Zealand 15/11/16
New Zealand 2-1 New Caledonia 20/07/19
New Zealand latest home form
New Zealand have been on a good run of form at home, and have won in each of their five most recent matches. In their last home game, they managed to defeat Fiji 4-0 in the World Cup Qualification. In their last five matches, they have scored 15 goals and conceded two.
New Zealand 5-1 Samoa 10/07/19
New Zealand 2-0 Papua New Guinea 15/07/19
New Zealand 2-1 New Caledonia 20/07/19
New Zealand 2-0 Gambia 16/11/21
New Zealand 4-0 Fiji 21/03/22
New Zealand latest away form
New Zealand have recently been on a relatively good form on the road, as they have won having won three of their five most recent matches. In their last away game, they defeated Papua New Guinea 1-0. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded five.
Lithuania 1-0 New Zealand 17/11/19
Curacao 1-2 New Zealand 09/10/21
Bahrain 0-1 New Zealand 12/10/21
Jordan 3-1 New Zealand 28/01/22
Papua New Guinea 0-1 New Zealand 18/03/22
New Caledonia latest home form
New Caledonia have failed to keep a good run of form at home, and they have won only two of their five most recent matches. In their last home game, they lost 2-1 to Fiji in the World Cup Qualification. In their last five matches, they have scored 14 goals and conceded four.
New Caledonia 1-1 Estonia 26/11/17
New Caledonia 0-1 Solomon Islands 12/12/17
New Caledonia 1-0 Fiji 12/07/19
New Caledonia 11-0 Tuvalu 18/07/19
New Caledonia 1-2 Fiji 18/03/22
New Caledonia latest away form
New Caledonia have recently seemed to be on a downward turn of form away from home, having lost in each of their two most recent matches. Their last away game came 3-0 against Tahiti in the Pacific Games. In their last five macthes, they have scored 11 goals and conceded three.
American Samoa 0-5 New Caledonia 07/07/19
Solomon Islands 0-2 New Caledonia 10/07/19
Tahiti 0-3 New Caledonia 15/07/19
New Zealand 2-1 New Caledonia 20/07/19
Papua New Guinea 1-0 New Caledonia 21/03/22
New Zealand news
Chris Wood is New Zealand’s star in attack, with the forward moving further clear as the nation’s all-time top scorer through his brace last time out.
He may again be joined by Ben Waine, who earned his first caps in this round of fixtures and scored a debut goal against Papua New Guinea.
New Caledonia news
New Caledonia will be wothout defender Jean-Luc Decoire, who is suspended after he was sent off in the dying minutes of their defeat to Papua New Guinea.
Joel Wakanumune and captain Emile Bearune will offer experience at the back, while Bertrand Kai will likely lead the line from the onset.
Prediction and Odds
New Caledonia have shown resilience to come close in their first two games, but Thursday’s game may prove to be a far bigger challenge for them to overcome.
The All Whites have far more quality and have a good home record, so we back them to come out with a confortable home victory.
Odds: 1 1.78 X 2.15 2 2.35
Probable outcomes
New Zealand 2-0 New Caledonia
New Zealand 2-1 New Caledonia
New Zealand 3-1 New Caledonia
New Zealand 4-1 New Caledonia
New Zealand 5-2 New Caledonia
