The Trans Tasman Cup is a three match series played out between the two countries which began last year in Auckland with the Australians winning the inaugural event 3-0.
The Kiwis started strong on Friday night at ASB Sports Centre in Wellington but the confident Australians were on the scoreboard after five minutes thanks to Tobias Seeto. Their second goal came just three minutes later through Wade Giovenali. Despite conceding early the Futsal Whites remained competitive throughout the match and had their chances but failed to convert them, going down 3-0 in the series opener.
Futsal Whites coach Scott Gilligan said the game was positive and praised the Australian keeper Gavin O’Brien on his performance in the first match.
“I thought the second half we matched them and had more chances than them,” Gilligan said. “Their keeper was just too good tonight.”
Game two saw the Futsalroos once again take victory this time going down 4-0.
With both sides eager for the win, the Futsal Whites came out firing and had plenty of chances early on, including a shot on goal from James Vaughan that was saved by the goalkeeper Angelo Konstantinou.
Both sides brought a level of feistiness that was absent from the previous match which translated into cards and fouls. The Kiwis soon found themselves reaching their five-foul limit meaning any further foul would be an automatic penalty from the second penalty spot, ten metres out from the goal. Two minutes later they did just that and Futsalroos captain Wade Giovenali stepped up but was denied by Futsal Whites keeper Elias Billeh.
A Futsal Whites free-kick that went straight to the opposition allowed the Australians to open the scoring and while the Futsal Whites made some strong attacks of their own their finishing was off allowing the visitors to dominate the score line after netting three more goals.
Following the match Futsal Whites captain Marvin Eakins remained positive his side could turn things around for the third and final match on Sunday afternoon.
“We’ve shown so many glimpses of what we can achieve and if we can eradicate these little mistakes that we do make then I reckon we can push Australia, if not knock them over.”
However despite his optimism Eakins and his teammates couldn’t do the business when they faced up their trans Tasman rivals yesterday, with the Australian not content just to win the series, but to do it in dominating fashion.
Faced with the much changed Futsal Whites team the Australians made a few key changes themselves, most notable the inclusion of Tobias Seeto as a flying goalkeeper. The Futsalroos put to early goals away before employing the tactic which proved highly successful for the visitors, even if it left them with little cover at the back at times.
Tai Barnham had a chance to pull one back for the Kiwis after beating Seeto but the well organised Australian defence quickly rallied to deny him. New Zealand also had an excellent opportunity when Seeto left the goal wide open on attack allowing Dylan Manickum to take a chance with a long range shot which went just wide.
The Australians netted five more goals before the final whistle proving they will be one of the teams to watch at this week’s OFC Futsal Championship Invitational which gets underway tomorrow and concludes on Saturday, 27 July.
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