Following expulsion from the AFC in 1974, Taiwan became a provisional member of OFC to represent the region alongside New Zealand in qualifying for the 1978 FIFA World Cup™ in Argentina.
The qualifying tournament was again combined with AFC, and consisted of 21 nations. The first stage involved five groups, with the winner of each progressing to a final round-robin section, of which the winner would qualify for the World Cup. New Zealand and Taiwan were drawn alongside each other, and were joined by former OFC member Australia in Group 5.
Australia opened the group with back-to-back victories over Taiwan on neutral soil at Govind Park in Ba, Fiji. New Zealand then responded with a pair of dominant 6-0 wins over the same opposition at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
That meant top spot in the group would be decided by the results between the two Trans-Tasman rivals. Two goals from Peter Ollerton proved vital for the Socceroos, claiming an ultimately defining 3-1 win over New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with the return match finishing as a 1-1 draw in Auckland.
Australia topped the group and progressed as such, whilst New Zealand and Taiwan both exited at the first hurdle.
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