OFC release – Australia have won the first match of the 2003 OFC U-17 Qualifying Tournament final playoffs beating New Caledonia yesterday by 3-1 at the Stade Pentecost in Noumea.

The Australians led 2-0 at half-time, but the end score line would have flattered even the visitors as the hosts proved worthy opponents and competitive in all phases. What they lacked was the finishing and precision of the Australians who have shown the ability to score from any situation during the course of the qualifiers.

Australia’s three goals all came from set piece plays, two from free kicks and one from a corner in the second half. But the New Caledonians held their own in general play and were able to score a brilliant goal of their own when profilic striker Mone Wamowe scored midway through the second half.

But once again, it was the class and overall accuracy of the well drilled Australians that made the difference. Kristian Sarkies free kick in the 24th minute was matched by Richard Carlos Cardozzo’s effort just before half-time. Cardozzo, the tournament’s leading goal-scorer took his tally to thirteen with his second goal of the match with barely two minutes after the break.

The young Australians have made a habit of putting away opposing teams on either side of half-time when they are at their most dangerous, and when other teams start to tire – and today’s game was no exception.

The only sour point was replacement Oliver Totani being sent off by New Zealand referee Peter O’Leary for a late challenge in the dying moments of the match. He will miss the second playoff scheduled for Saturday, 1 March at the early time of 9:00am as agreed by the two participating national associations and OFC.

A smallish crowd of just over 300 people turned up but a bigger crowd is expected on Saturday.

2003 OFC U-17 QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT

FINAL PLAYOFF 1: New Caledonia vs Australia

KICK-OFF TIME: 4:00pm

VENUE: Stade Pentecost, Noumea

HALF-TIME SCORE – 0-2 Australia

FULL-TIME SCORE – 1-3 Australia

CAUTIONS – 10 Bowen UIrich (NCL) 12′; 17 Angelo Martino (AUS) 52′; 14 Matt Hilton (AUS) 57

EXPULSIONS – 20 Oliver Totani (AUS) 86

WEATHER/CROWD – fine, warm – crowd: approx 300 +

MATCH OFFICIALS – Referee: Peter O¹Leary (New Zealand), Assistant Referees: Teariki Goodwin (Cook Islands) and Sam Hunt (Samoa), Fourth Official: Derek Rugg (New Zealand), Match Commissioner: Tautulu Roebeck (Samoa)

TEAM LISTS (goal-scorers, subs):

Australia:

1. NATHAN JAMES HUGHES, 3. NIGEL BOOGAARD, 4. KEEGAN BRADY WOLFENDEN, 5. BENJAMIN PHILLIP GRIFFIN, 9. ERIC ENDEL PAARTALU (sub -78′), 11. LACHLIN CAHILL, 12. KRISTIAN RONALD SARKIES (goal 24′), 13. TIMOTHY JAMES SMITS, 14. MATT CHRISTOPHER HILTON, 15. RICHARD CARLOS CARDOZO (sub -57′) (goal 42′, 47′), 17. ANGELO MARTIN (sub -78′ for Adrian Leijer)

SUBS – 2. JACOB LUIGI TIMPANO, 6. EVANGELOS KARAVITIS, 7. YIANNI SARRIS, 8. ADRIAN LEIJER (sub +78′), 10. ADAM MICHAEL CASEY (sub +57′), 16. MATTHEW DEEGAN, 18. MARIO ANDRES APARICIO, 19. DANE ADAM RICHARDSON, 20. OLIVER TOTANI (sub +78′)

COACH – Ange Postecoglou

New Caledonia:

4. XENIE JEAN-CHRIS, 5. VENDEGOU KENJY, 7. WAMOWE MONE (goal 67′), 8. CAZASSUS LAURENT, 9. BOANEMOA RAPHAEL (sub -80′), 10. BOWEN ULRICH (sub -86′), 11. HNAGEJE ALBERT, 12. BOAOUTHO ALOPHE, 18. POATYIE ADRIEN (sub -67′), 19. NEIMBO JORDAN, 20. WEJIEMEE MMANUEL

Subs – 1. MOLEANA-MOUGEL THIBAUD, 2. XANATARE PASCAL (sub +80′), 6. BOAE-POATCHILE RODRIQUE, 13. DIELA ROBERTO (sub +67′), 14. CHEVRY ARNAUD (sub +86′), 17. PAWAWI ROMARIC, 15. MANUEL CONSIGNY

COACH – Eric Altmeyer

* All kick-off times and match day dates are local