PORT MORESBY, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Australia's Wollongong celebrated a 1-0 victory over Tafea FC of Vanuatu in the Oceania club championship final on Monday to earn a place in the FIFA world club championship in Spain in July.
Striker Scott Chipperfield scored in the 62nd minute for the
reigning Australian national league premiers who battled
stifling heat to play seven matches in 14 days.
Wollongong won all five of their preliminary matches to
finish on top of Pool A with a 38-0 goal record while Tafea FC
topped Pool B with four victories from four matches and a 22-2
record.
In the third-place playoff, Napier City Rovers of New
Zealand beat Tahitian champions AS Venus 3-2 after leading 2-1
at halftime.
After a scoreless first half in the final, Wollongong coach
Ron Corry said all he wanted was one goal.
'We said at halftime if we get one, we'll win it. We didn't
play to entertain. We played to win,' Corry said.
'It's great. I don't think it's sunk in yet.'
Wollongong beat AS Venus 4-2 in their semifinal on Saturday
and Tafea beat Napier City Rovers 4-2
- NEWS