Aotearoa/New Zealand has joined New Caledonia in the last four Oceania teams for a direct route through to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Both nations have claimed two straight wins in the midst of OFC qualification to reach the third – and final – round of matches in the new year.
Just four other nations mathematically remain in contention this week for the final two places of the knockout stage that will be held in Wellington and Auckland respectively.
The All Whites earned their berth after thumping Vanuatu 8-1 in Hamilton on Friday night.
A superb display from Matthew Garbett, who scored once and had a hand across three of Aotearoa's other goals, led the way in the 11th minute for two other teammates to goal twice each for five well before the half-time break after Vanuatu threatened to make a game out of it early.
Jordy Tasip landed his maiden international goal to pull Vanuatu unexpectedly level 1-1 in the 17th minute.
But less than half an hour later, the contest flipped on its head a 5-1 scoreline in favour of the hosts and the encounter was as good as over.
"They put up a fight in the first 25 minutes and made it difficult for us," All Whites striker Chris Wood said, "but we stayed professional and did the job."
Wood scored twice inside 60 seconds across the 23rd and 24th minutes while the attack on Vanuatu's net spread to the boot of defender Tyler Bindon in the 31st and 38th minutes.
The second half appeared to be heading towards a dull finish after Vanuatu seemed content in nullifying the impact of a wayward result before the All Whites went back into scoring mode through Elijah Just in the 74th, Sarpreet Singh in the 82nd and Callum McCowatt in the 89th minute.
"It's disappointing but we're going to keep our heads up for our next game on Monday," Vanuatu coach Brian Kaltak said.
"We feel the loss, but have to take this as a lesson and we have to focus on ourselves, and there are a lot of things that we need to improve and get ready for that game."
Vanuatu will soon face Tahiti, who are full of confidence following a 3-0 triumph over Samoa in heavy rain.
"We had no choice with the conditions – we just had to get on with it," Tahiti coach Samuel Garcia said.
"I'm proud of the boys because they stayed focused throughout the match – and that is the most important thing."
Eddy Kaspard found space between two defenders to smash home a header from Manuarii Shan's pinpoint cross in the 59th minute.
The second came six minutes later from a low drive from Tehotu Gitton that was spilled by Fatu to the feet of 35-year-old Benoit Mathon.
Tehau made good on his two regrettable misses with a third for the Tahitians to ensure they may well advance on goal difference should Toa Aito draw with Vanuatu in their final pool fixture.
Samoa walk away with zero points from its two qualifiers and eliminated in the rugby-loving codes' nation short football World Cup journey.
"It's another great learning experience," coach Jess Ibrom said.
"We have such a young squad; it's not an excuse, just a reality.
"We have four 18-year-olds and they kept going throughout but it was very hard to play in the conditions."
New Caledonia had to fight harder than their Kiwi rivals did to secure the maximum six points.
The Kagus had come back from one goal down to defeat the Solomon Islands 3-2 amid the opening clash of another double-header, this time in Papua New Guinea's capital of Port Moresby.
"It wasn't easy; we had to draw on the team's resources," New Caledonia coach Johann Sidaner said.
"We knew that nothing would be easy, and we were prepared for that."
New Caledonia scored first in the 6th minute through Joseph Athale until the Solomons tied up the scores just three minutes later courtesy of Raphael Leai shot.
The Bonitos took a 2-1 lead in the 39th minute after Javin Alick powered home a close-range header from a corner.
But the class of Kagus striker Athale, who was released by French fourth-tier club Olympique Saint-Quentin for the Oceanian qualifiers, once again sent Solomons keeper Phillip Mango the wrong direction from the spot for a 59th-minute equaliser.
The blistering pace of Germain Haewegene set up fellow substitute Gerard Waia to steer the eventual winner in, less than 60 seconds after the scorer was on the pitch.
While not out of contention, Solomon Islands coach Joshua Smith was left ruing the side's key errors.
"Making mistakes and giving penalties away, you can't win international games," Smith said.
"We are starting this journey again, unfortunately; we have to pick ourselves up and just get ready for the next game."
Papua New Guinea and Fiji played out a thrilling 3-3 draw later on when both outfits needed three desperate points rather than just sharing the one.
The home side could feel they let victory slip right away after the Cuscus seemed to strike the winner four minutes into injury time before the Fijians ended the away fixture with a heartbreaker for the solemn crowd in the 95th minute.
"We fought okay, competed okay, but you can't allow a goal like that in the last minute of the game," PNG coach Felipe Vega-Arango said.
It all but ended his side's chances of reaching the top four even should the Fijians lose their final pool match, trailing by not only three points but a sizeable goal difference on the table.
Not that Fiji coach Rob Sherman carried all the glory into the post-match press conference.
"Obviously conceding so late in the game, then coming back with a goal right at the death, I'm very happy with that," he said.
"All-in-all, though, I'm disappointed with our play from set pieces as I thought we dominated the game but conceded two very soft goals from set plays."
Papua New Guinea still never trailed the game once among the six goals that were netted.
Joseph Joe after two minutes, Ati Kepo right on half-time and Raymond Gunemba during the 94th minute celebrated with victory in mind.
But the Bula Boys stuck back through Thomas Dunn in the 43rd, skipper Roy Krishna in the 54th and then Merrill Nand brutal moments from the final whistle.
