New Zealand have continued their 100 percent record in the third stage of Oceania's World Cup qualifying with a 3-0 win over Tahiti.
Michael McGlinchey struck twice for New Zealand in Christchurch, putting the hosts in front early before completing the scoring in second-half injury time on Tuesday.
The home side got off to a great start at AMI Stadium, a temporary venue set up following the earthquakes in Christchurch in 2011, scoring in the third minute when Chris Killen took advantage of a mistake by Tahiti's defence to setup McGlinchey.
Central Coast Mariners midfielder McGlinchey was not afraid to shoot throughout the match, curling a shot just past the top corner in the 19th minute before Killen had his appeals for a penalty ignored and then had a header saved.
Tahiti, who won the Oceania Nations Cup in June when New Zealand were stunned by New Caledonia in the semi-finals, got on top during periods of the second half but it was the hosts who wrapped up the result late on.
Killen made it 2-0 in the 90th minute when he scored after Tahiti goalkeeper Mikael Roche could only parry Kosta Barbarouses' shot, while McGlinchey completed the 3-0 triumph three minutes later when he finally got a curling effort on target.
New Zealand have won all four of their matches in Round 3 of Oceania's World Cup qualifying and top the standings with 12 points, as they chase a spot in the intercontinental playoff against the fourth-best team from CONCACAF's qualification process.
New Caledonia are second with nine points after they thumped Solomon Islands 5-0 with Cesar Lolohea providing two goals, while Georges Gope-Fenepej, Roy Kayara and Iamel Kabeu also got on the scoresheet.
Gope-Fenepej, who joined French club Troyes in June, got New Caledonia underway in the fifth minute, scoring his 16th goal in 17 international games for his country.
Solomon Islands remain third in the standings with three points, while Tahiti are bottom after four defeats in as many games.
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