New Zealand beats New Caledonia in WCup qualifying

Published Mar. 22, 2013 10:03 a.m. ET

foxsports

Ipswich Town defender Tommy Smith scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to give New Zealand a 2-1 win over New Caledonia on Friday and an overall victory in Oceania regional qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

Smith's close-range header broke a 1-1 deadlock which had lasted from the 55th minute and gave New Zealand an unassailable lead at the top of the four-team qualifying group.

New Zealand will now play the fourth-placed team from the CONCACAF Confederation in home and away matches in November for a place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.