The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Sydney

New Zealand completed a rare soccer double over the weekend when they won the men's and women's Oceania qualifying tournaments for the Beijing Olympics.

New Zealand wrapped up the women's qualifying event when they beat Papua New Guinea 2-0 on Saturday then added the men's event by thrashing Solomon Islands 8-0 on Sunday.

The results ensured both teams finished at the top of their final pools and qualified for the Beijing Games in August, pending approval by the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

New Zealand's men only needed a draw from Sunday's final qualifier against the Solomon Islands in Fiji after beating Fiji and Vanuatu in their earlier games.

"We were always going to win this match, it was just a case of how many," coach Stu Jacobs told the New Zealand Press Association.

"But you still have to maintain your professionalism and the lads certainly did that on Sunday."