New Zealand cruise past Tahiti in WC qualifiers

Christchurch: New Zealand beat Tahiti 3-0 on Tuesday to stay unbeaten in the third stage of Oceania World Cup qualifying, edging closer to an inter-continental playoff for a place in Brazil in 2014.

Midfielder Michael McGlinchey book-ended the match with goals in the third and 91st minutes — on either side of a Chris Killen goal — to ensure New Zealand retained its unbeaten record after four rounds of the four-team round-robin.

New Zealand beat Tahiti 2-0 in the Tahitian capital, Papeete, on Saturday after earlier wins over the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.

New Zealand are edging closer to an inter-continental playoff for a place in Brazil in 2014.

New Caledonia and the Solomons were due to meet in the other fourth-round match in Noumea later on Tuesday.

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