SYDNEY: New Zealand sealed top spot in the Oceania World Cup qualifying competition and moved through to the last stage by beating New Caledonia 3-1 in Noumea on Saturday.

The win maintained New Zealand’s unbeaten record in the four-team qualifying phase and gave them an unassailable lead at the top of the standings with two games in hand. The Oceania winners do not have automatic entry into the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa and New Zealand now face a two-leg playoff next year against the fifth-placed team from the Asia qualifying zone.

New Zealand striker Shane Meltz scored twice in 10 minutes midway through the second half to break a 1-1 deadlock after New Caledonia’s Michel Hmae had cancelled out an early goal from the visitors.

By winning the group, New Zealand will represent Oceania at next year’s Confederations Cup, which is also being staged in South Africa.

Fiji earlier won their first match of the final Oceania qualifying tournament when they beat Vanuatu 2-0 at Ba, with Salesh Kumar and substitute Maciu Dunadamu scoring the goals.

New Zealand play New Caledonia again in Auckland on Wednesday before tackling Fiji in Lautoka on November 19. The Fijians also play away to Vanuatu on Wednesday but none of the remaining matches will have any bearing on the standings.

The only time New Zealand qualified for the World Cup was in 1982. Australia had dominated the Oceania division since but moved to Asia after the last World Cup in search of better competition and direct entry.