Australia was in a class of its own, defying the wet and slippery conditions on offer at Maroochydore Soccer Centre to completely overwhelm Tonga by 14 unanswered goals.

Having already won Group B, tonight's display was a dress rehearsal for the final playoff starting 28 February.

The young Aussies navigated the conditions well and did not seem to pertubed by the weather unlike the two sides that struggled in the earlier match.

The goal-fest was in complete contrast to the first match of the evening between New Zealand and the Solomon Islands which ended in a nil all draw.

Had it not been for an outstanding display of goalkeeping by Tonga's Ataisi Tukimaka, the margin of victory would have been much greater.

Indeed the Tongans did well to not let the score run away in the second half after the Australians had amassed nine goals at the break.

Richie Carlos Cardozzo was the star attraction with a mighty six goal haul in the first half. Before the match he was sitting on five goals for the tournament, just one behind the top goalscorer of the 2003 OFC U-17 Qualifying Tournament, Osea Vakatalesau of Fiji, who tallied six goals over in Group A which finished last Saturday.

Cardozzo took his tournament tally to eleven goals, though this came with an extra game compared to Vakatalesau.

The other positive aspect of the contest was no bookings. The rain continues to pour on and off tonight restricting the crowd attendance. Vanuatu currently leads Tahiti 2-1 in the last match of the night, and in Group B.

Australia 14

goals: # 15 Richard Carlos Cardozzo 1', 6', 28', 36', 41', 43'; # 19 Dane Richardson 11', 37'; # 12 Kristian Sarkies 39'; # 6 Evangelos Karavitis 52'; # 20 Oliver Totani 65'; # 10 Adam Michael Casey 72'; # 14 Matt Hilton 75'; # 17 Angelo Martino 89

Tonga 0

HT: 9-0

Crowd: 250+

Weather: Rain, slippery conditions - humid

New Zealand and the Solomon Islands have battled to a dour 0-0 draw with both sides struggling in the slippery conditions at Maroochydore Soccer Centre caused by overnight rain.

It was a disappointing end to the 2003 OFC U-17 Qualifying Tournament for both teams with a smallish crowd of 250 plus missing out on what many anticipated would be an open encounter with both teams having nothing to lose except pride and second place in Group B.

New Zealand were perhaps the more successful of the two teams in coming to terms with the conditions but the Solomon Island were resolute and just as determined. But despite the obvious frustrations shown by players by both sides in not being able to play their natural games, the match did not deteriorate thankfully into an ill-mannered contest.

There were some physical exchanges but only one yellow card was dished out the whole game, to New Zealand's Michael White for charging into a Solomons player. Ironically, that was the first caution the entire tournament for the kiwis and they were subsequently awarded the Fairplay trophy for their impeccable disciplinary record and for playing in the spirit of the game.

Vanuatu plays Tahiti in the last match tonight and is now heavily favoured to take second place if they win. They are missing star striker Jean Emmanuel Maleb and John Mark Simeon through statuory suspension for getting two yellow cards from previous matches.

Australia, who has already officially won Group B after beating New Zealand 3-1 last Saturday, is currently playing Tonga and reports from the Sunshine Coast in Australia say Australia is leading by four goals with fifteen minutes till half-time.

New Zealand 0

Solomon Islands 0

caution: # 13 Michael White 68

crowd: 250+

weather: slippery conditions, rain - 27 degrees celsius