Fiji vs New Caledonia Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Fiji and New Caledonia have started the second round of OFC qualification without a defeat in their opening two matches and both will sail through to the third round with a draw.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 17th November, 2024: UK – 3:00am / Saturday 16th November, 2024 - US ET – 10:00pm / US PT – 7:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – FIFA+ / US – FIFA+
Fiji Preview: Unbeaten Fiji
Fiji started their campaign with a slender 1-0 defeat of the Solomon Islands thanks to an early winning goal from Roy Krishna, despite the Pacific islanders being down to ten men for a lot of the second-half of the match.
The other day, up against a poor Papua New Guinea side, Fiji went behind early on and even after equalising were 2-1 down at half-time. They equalised again, via the aforementioned Krishna, before quick-fire stoppage-time goals left it at three apiece in the end.
New Caledonia Preview: New Caledonian dominance
In contrast to Fiji’s dramatic second match the other day, New Caledonia had some drama with that ended up in a victory against the Solomon Islands. After taking an early lead, they went 2-1 down before half-time.
However, the New Caledonians turned the game back on its head to come out as 3-2 winners in that game and that backed up a comfortable and impressive 3-1 defeat of Papua New Guinea last month.
Fiji Team News: Krishna importance
Fiji have a fully fit and available squad for this one against New Caledonia in Papua New Guinea with a reliance on experienced and ageing captain Roy Krishna in attack.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Narayan; Vasconellos, Wara, Matanisiga, Baravilala; Waranaivalu; Begg, Jennings, Dunn, Hughes; Krishna
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
New Caledonia Team News: Some pedigree
New Caledonia have a bit of pedigree in their squad as they take on Fiji this month such as attackers Georges Gope-Fenepej and Cesar Lolohea.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Ulile; Deplanque, Ranchain, Slmane, Athale; Jeno, Mathelon, Bako; Gope-Fenepej, Katrawa, Zeoula
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
Key Stats
- Coming soon...
Fiji vs New Caledonia Prediction
The expectation before this international break would be that the low quality in Oceanian football would produce low-scoring encounters with a lack of cutting edge in the final third. However, Fiji and New Caledonia were both involved in high-scoring thrillers the other day. That said, with qualification for the next phase now on the line with Fiji needing just a point, a low-block from the Fijians is expected with a low-scoring encounter therefore now anticipated for this one.
Fiji vs New Caledonia Tip: Under 2.5 goals