In tough conditions with temperatures exceeding 35 degress Celsius the All Whites booked their place in the final against UAE thanks to Killen’s wonderful strike in the 78th minute.
Ricki Herbert experimented with his formation and started with Andrew Durante as a holding midfielder with Chris James and debutant Jake Butler alongside him, with Chris Wood up front flanked by Jeremy Brockie and Kosta Barbarouses.
A bright start from the All Whites put the Saudi Arabia defence under pressure from the kick off with Wood and Barbarouses pressing high up the pitch. It was Wood who had the best chance in the opening exchanges as Butler played him through and after a sharp turn to beat his man, drilled a shot that was well saved by Abdullah in goal. It was Abdullah in the Saudi goal that kept the scores level at half time, denying first Wood and then Barbarouses with a great save with his legs. Barbarouses went close again just after half time with a curling effort that had the keeper stranded but just went past the post.
The sweltering conditions were causing the game to slow down to walking pace at times with Saudi happy to wait for a counter attack. Temperatures rose even higher in the second half as Saudi Arabia started aggressively, with captain Kariri clattering into Durante and Wood on the receiving end of an off-the-ball incident with Ahmed Asiri.
Wood was replaced by the match winner Killen on the 62nd minute and it wasn’t long before the striker settled the match. Barbarouses picked up the ball on the right and fed Killen on the edge of the box. As the Saudi defence backed off Killen quickly fired in a shot that the keeper could only palm into the goal.
Butler and James both made the most of their starts with impressive performances that Ricki Herbert would have paid attention to, and Clapham and Howieson also impressing as substitutes.
Earlier, UAE booked their place in the final with a 7-6 penalty shoot-out victory over Trinidad & Tobago after it finished 3-3 at full time. New Zealand will now play UAE in the OSN Cup Final on Tuesday morning at 6.15am (NZT) while Saudi Arabia will take on Trinidad & Tobago earlier in the 3rd Place match.
OSN Cup 2013
New Zealand 1 (Chris KILLEN 78’)
Saudi Arabia 0
King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Story courstesy of New Zealand Football
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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