ADELAIDE: A first half goal to Socceroo midfielder Marc Bresciano was enough to hand Stage 2 hosts Australia, a comfortable 1-0 win over transtasman rivals New Zealand in Adelaide tonight.
A careless tackle by All Whites defender Tony Lochhead in the 39th minute gave the Socceroos a direct free kick from a handy position in front of the box. Bresciano’s curling kick beat the wall of players giving New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Paston no chance.
Australia had the better of the second half and were desperately unlucky not to convert numerous shots on goal late in the piece with the New Zealanders stretched in defence.
New Zealand tried to push forward to link up with their front men but were shut out by the solid Socceroos defence.
In the end, Australia were deserved winners in front of an appreciate crowd of 12,134 at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Round 1: Match 3 – 29 May 2004, 8:00pm
Australia vs New Zealand
Full-time score: 1-0 Australia
Half-time score: 1-0 Australia
Goal-scorers: Aus – (23) Marco Bresciano 39′
Cautions: Aus – (9) John Aloisi 14′; NZ – (3) David Mulligan 26′
Expulsions: none
Crowd Attendance: 12,130
Weather: Cool conditions
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Match Officials:
Match Commissioner: Lee Harmon (Cook Islands)
Referee Inspector: Hari Naicker (Fiji)
Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark)
Assistant Referee 1: Bill Hansen (Denmark)
Assistant Referee 2: Dhirendra Kewal (Fiji)
Fourth Official: Leone Rakaroi (Fiji)
Team Lists (& Substitutions)
AUSTRALIA
18. Zeljko Kalac GK
3. Steve Laybutt (-72′)
4. Simon Colosimo (-53′)
5. Tony Vidmar (c)
7. Brett Emerton
8. Josip Skoko
9. John Aloisi
11. Stan Lazaridis
13. Vince Grella
19. Max Vieri (-67′)
23. Marco Bresciano
Subs
2. Jade North (+53′)
6. Scott Chipperfield
10. Tim Cahill
12. Alex Brosque
14. Patrick Kisnorbo
15. Mile Sterjovski (+67′)
17. David Zrilic
20. Adrian Madaschi (+72′)
21. Ahmad Elrich
22. Brad Jones RGK
NEW ZEALAND
1. Mark Paston GK
3. David Mulligan
4. Steven Old
5. Che Bunce
6. Tony Lochhead
7. Ivan Vicelich
9. Noah Hickey (-50′)
11. Leo Bertos (-69′)
12. Simon Elliot (c)
16. Vaughan Coveny
17. Raffaele de Gregorio (-77′)
Subs
2. Duncan Oughton (+77′)
8. Aaran Lines
10. Timothy Brown
13. Brent Fisher (+50′)
15. Michael Wilson
18. Shane Smeltz (+69′)
19. Neil Jones
20. Andrew Boyens
21. Rupesh Puna
22. Glen Moss RGK
23. Tamati Williams