The postponed World Cup qualifier match between Fiji and New Zealand has now been set for November 19 in Fiji after being postponed on three separate occasions.

The stage 2 match will be a formality for Fiji as it is out of the running after losing to New Zealand and New Caledonia in the opening round.

While on the other hand, the Kiwis who are on the brink of making their appearance in the 2010 World Cup need to overcome the Fijian challenge to finish on a high note.

The fixture was originally scheduled to be played in Auckland on October 13, 2007 at North Harbour Stadium however FIFA postponed the match after Fijian goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau was denied an entry visa into New Zealand.

Fiji FA and NZ Football requested that FIFA reschedule the match to Samoa on June 23rd, 2008 but after closer examination of the request and considering the difficulties encountered by the Samoa Football Soccer Federation to host the match in June FIFA agreed to relocate the fixture to Fiji in November at the request of all participants.

New Zealand won 2-0 when the two sides met in the first match of the OFC Nations Cup at Churchill Park in November 2007. Ivan Vicelich and Shane Smeltz scored the goals in front of a crowd of 6,000.

While Vanuatu and Fiji are now definitely out of the running, New Caledonia have moved to within a point of group leaders New Zealand, who have a game in hand over the islanders.

The home-and-away contest between these top two countries in September will decide the fate of the Oceania group.

Fijilive

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