History for Big Pete 65

Not too bad a result for little Tahiti. Sounds from the live commentary below, they had their chances - would've loved to have seen the stadium erupting after Tehau scored for Tahiti to make it 3-1 on 54 mins (packed with Brazilian locals supporting the underdog Tahitians apparently).

Great that one of Tahiti's greatest-ever players Marama Vahirua (Nancy, Ligue 1) finally gets to play for Tahiti after representing France at u-21 level. Sounds like he was influential with free-kicks etc.

THE SUN newspaper, UK (16/06/13):

"Tahiti are ranked joint 138th in the FIFA world rankings with Syria and one place above Afghanistan.

And with a squad made up almost entirely of amateurs, it is no wonder they are tipped to be the whipping boys in Brazil. But while they might be up the creek, they at least have “The Paddle”.

Whether we get to see it is another matter. For that is the name of their top striker’s goal celebration.

Marama Vahirua, 33, the only pro in the squad, plies his trade with French club Nancy.

The ex French Under-21 ace, who has never played for Tahiti before, pretends to paddle a canoe every time he celebrates a goal.

He said: “I’ve made the paddle a symbol of my country.

“Celebrating like that is my way of paying tribute to Tahiti. And a goal for us will be a victory in this competition, no matter who scores.”

"The moment of the game came when Tahiti scored their historic goal. The side's only professional player Marama Vahirua whipped a corner to the back post, where a rising Tehau thumped his header past Vincent Enyeama. The celebrations by the players on the pitch and from coach Eddy Etaeta on the sideline where something to behold as the Tahitians revelled in the limelight, performing their paddle celebration in honour of Va'a, one of Tahiti's most popular sports."

Video highlights - there are dozens here - take your pick: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nigeria+v+tahiti+confederations+cup&oq=nigeria+v+tahiti+confederations+cup&gs_l=youtube.3...5123.19493.0.20204.35.34.0.1.1.0.281.6451.7j1j26.34.0.eytns%2Cpt%3D-30%2Cn%3D2..0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.vqBYkYzfFe8

(Oduamadi's great fifth goal to complete his hat-trick is attracting a lot of attention)

Live blow-by-blow commentary here - good detail (South African sports website):

Scroll right down and read from bottom to top:

http://www.supersport.com/football/live(a).aspx?id=120964&num=211297

SELECTED EXCERPTS (read from bottom to top):

90 And Nigeria win by 6-1. A spirited fight back is halted by a composed Nigerian performance in the end

90 Musa's nifty footwork opens up the Tahiti defence but Ogu's finish is not as exemplary88Jonathan Tehau almost grabs his second goal of the night with a super header that leaves Enyeama in no man's land. The Nigeria keeper wathes relieved as the header goes wide84This will be the second biggest win margin in the history of the Fifa Confederations Cup

81 Elderson Echiejile Goal - Tahiti can't clear their lines and Elderson completes his brace on the night

76 Nnamdi Oduamadi Goal - Brilliant wing play from Nigeria as Oduamadi sweeps home Ideye's precise cross from the right70Oduamadi is knocking very hard on the door looking to complete his hattrick

69 Jonathan Tehau Own Goal - From hero to villain. Tehau scores at the wrong end after Oduamadi's trickery in the box fools the Oceania champions

54 Jonathan Tehau Goal - Tehau scores with a header off a corner and the stadium erupts. Tahiti fanss and the neutrals go mad 53 Corner

51 kelvin Amata?@KelvinAmata20m a classic Super Eagles display of making minnows look super. They need to shut the noise of those Brazilian fans

50 Nigeria are casual...far too casual, it's almost annoying

49 Musa shocks all with a very bad miss when it was easier to score. Nigeria may come to rue these missed chances later on in the tournament

48 The Tahiti fans are still in full voice here in Belo Horizonte

45 RALPH?@ralphcgeorge2m despite the goals it has not been total domination for Nigeria. Tahiti has shown flashes really especially Hue

34 Steevy Chong Hue shows a great burst of acceleration down that right hand side, prods the ball past Enyeama and is almost wheeling away in celebration but Omeruo comes up with a massive block almost on the line. Tahiti have players that can hurt Nigeria 

26 Nnamdi Oduamadi Goal - Musa latches on to a long pass on the right. He crosses and the Tahiti keeper should have done better than spill the ball at the feet of Oduamadi. The Varese Man is never going to miss from six yards and he duly makes it 3-0 to Nigeria

24 Tahiti's best passage of play breaks dowb after a bad cross from the right. The Islanders would have brought down the roof with a goal there

10 Nnamdi Oduamadi Goal - Now you have to fear for the worst...from a Tahitian point of view. Nnamdi Oduamadi had too much time to chose his spot. 2-0 to Nigeria

8 Nigeria bossing the game now. Predictably. Ujah shoots when he should have passed. The chance goes up in smoke

5 CHANCE. Tahiti get a chance to respond almost immediately but Vahirua's shot goes over. Replays shows Enyeama may have gotten a touch but referees says it's a goal kick

5 Elderson Echiejile Goal - Nigeria take the lead. Double deflection and it's the Tahiti captain, Vallar who gets the unfortunate final touch

3 Tahiti are to playing a 3-4-3 formation but this looks to me more like a 7-3-0, but...they have attacked once already

1 The crowd is truly behind Tahiti. Nothing surprising about that one. The locals will want the underdogs to win this one