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

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.

All matches were held at the new Jardin de Paofai complex in Papeete, which was opened on 15 February 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 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 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: Vanuatu 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: Solomon Islands 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: Fiji 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: Fiji Rajnish Dave

Winners

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

Tahiti
First title

Awards

Best Player (MVP)
Solomon Islands James Naka
Top Scorer(s)
Solomon Islands James Naka Solomon Islands Robert Laua Fiji Jo Dugucagi
4 goals
Best Goalkeeper
French Polynesia 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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