2011 OFC Beach Soccer Championship

The 2011 OFC Beach Soccer Championship took place from 23 February to 26 February 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)Solomon Islands James Naka
Solomon Islands Robert Laua
Fiji Jo Dugucagi
(4 goals each)
Best player(s)Solomon Islands James Naka
Best goalkeeperFrench Polynesia Jonathan Torohia
Fair play award Fiji
2009
2013

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

Participating teams

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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

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The group stage was going to begin on 22 February but due to the cyclone which forced Vanuatu to withdraw, it commenced on 23 February 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 2 2 0 0 13 5 8 6
  Tahiti 2 1 0 1 7 9 −2 3
  Fiji 2 0 0 2 9 15 −6 0
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

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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

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

Awards

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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

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Team
1st Place   Tahiti

Top scorers

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Final standings

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Rank Team
1   Tahiti
2   Solomon Islands
3   Fiji

References

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  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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