Fiji wins 16-0 and Solomon Islands 12-1 as 2010 World Cup qualifying beginsAPIA, Samoa (AP) -- Qualifying for the 2010 World Cup began with a pair of routs in soccer's Oceania region.
Fiji beat Tuvalu 16-0 and Solomon Islands defeated American Samoa 12-1 on Saturday. In other regional games, Vanuatu downed Samoa 4-0 and New Caledonia edged Tahiti 1-0.
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A record 204 teams entered qualifying, which runs through late 2009 and will produce 31 nations to join host South Africa in the tournament, to be played from June 11 to July 11, 2010.
South America, Africa and Asia start play in October, ahead of the World Cup qualifying draw on Nov. 25 in Durban, South Africa. The United States received a first-round bye in the North and Central American and Caribbean region and likely will start play next June.
In Oceania, the South Pacific Games double as early qualifying, with the top three teams in this tournament advancing to a second-round group with New Zealand, the remaining power in the region following Australia's move to the Asian Football Confederation. The second-round winner meets Asia's No. 5 team in a home-and-home playoff for a World Cup berth.
Osea Vakatalesau scored six goals for Fiji, Pita Rabo three and Roy Krishna two. In the other Group A match, New Calendonia won on Pierre Wajoka's ninth-minute penalty kick, and Tahiti finished a man short when midfielder Jose Hmae was ejected.
In Group B, Commins Menapi scored four goals for Solomon Islands against American Samoa, and Benjamin Totori and Stanley Waita had two each. In an April 2001 qualifier, Australia set a scoring record with a 31-0 rout on American Samoa. Vanuatu scored two goals in each half against Samoa.
Fiji plays the Cook Islands in one of four games Monday, while the Solomons play Tonga, Tuvalu takes on New Caledonia and American Samoa meets Samoa. The top two teams in each group advance to the tournament semifinals Sept. 5.
