LAUTOKA – New Zealand survived an early scare to come back and defeat Papua New Guinea 5-2 on Match Day Three of the OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in Lautoka.
It took the injection of All-White Daniel Ellensohn and Waitakere United midfielder Jason Hayne to liven up a lacklustre New Zealand side who were trailing 1-0 after 17 minutes.
Papua New Guinea took the lead through Raymond Gunemba after some incisive PNG passing split open the New Zealand defence and he clinically slotted home past the outstretched Jacob Spoonley in the 17th minute.
PNG deserved their lead and should have made it two, when Captain David Muta blasted over the bar from the six yard box in the 38th minute.
New Zealand’s substitutes brought urgency to the side which was sorely lacking in the opening half hour and combined for New Zealand’s equaliser when Hayne ran at the PNG defence, pulled his cross back and Ellensohn slotted home.
The game changed in the second half when New Zealand finally took a stranglehold on the match. Ellensohn made it 2-0 in the 58th minute before Costa Barbarouses scored a classy double with goals in the 60th and 69th minute.
Jeremy Brockie collected his second goal in the 86th minute and PNG got some consolation one minute later when Gunemba collected his second of the afternoon.
Super sub Ellensohn – who originally was being rested for Friday’s clash with the Solomon Islands – was the standout for the New Zealand side with a cameo 35 minutes packed with energy and urgency.
Best for PNG was Gunemba, who posed New Zealand danger all night and took his two goals clinically.
New Zealand next face the Solomon Islands on Friday in the clash which will decide who earns the right to compete at Beijing in August.
INTERVIEW – NEW ZEALAND COACH STU JACOBS
Click here to listen to Stu Jacobs
INTERVIEW – NEW ZEALAND CAPTAIN AARON SCOTT
Click here to listen to Aaron Scott
INTERVIEW – NEW ZEALAND GOALKEEPER JACOB SPOONLEY
Click here to listen to Jacob Spoonley
INTERVIEW – PAPUA NEW GUINEA COACH GEORGE COWIE
Click here to listen to George Cowie
INTERVIEW – PAPUA NEW GUINEA CAPTAIN DAVID MUTA
Click here to listen to David Muta
OFC Men’s Olympic Football Tournament
Match No. 8
Papua New Guinea v New Zealand
Churchill Park
Lautoka
Fiji
Kick off: 17H00
PNG: 3. Matthew YANG; 4. Cyril MUTA; 5. Tarcicius MANDARIP; 9. Tau WINNIE (19. Niel HANS 46’); 10. Jason WESLEY (7. Fabian BAGI 53’); 12. David MUTA; 14. Raymond GUNEMBA; 15. Rodney TALAU; 16. Koriak UPAIGA; 18. Charles PARANDA (6. Samuel KINI 75’) ; 20. Gure GABINA (GK)
SUBS: 1. Anthon PIPI; 2. Lawrence MOSES;; 11. William MOBBS; 13. Mathias APO; 17. Raniel IGENS;
Coach: George COWIE (SCO)
Cautions: None
Red Cards: None
Goals: 14. Raymond GUNEMBA 17’, 87’
NZL: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY; 2. Aaron SCOTT (4. Jason HAYNE 31’); 3. Phil EDGINTON; 8. Cole PEVERLEY; 10. Jeremy BROCKIE; 12. Hone FOWLER; 13. Joel MATTHEWS; 14. Shaun VAN ROOYEN; 15. Cole TINKLER; 16. Greg DRAPER (17. Daniel ELLENSOHN 31’ (6. Sam MESSAM); 18. Costa BARBAROUSES;
SUBS: 5. Michael BOXALL; 21. Roy BELL
Coach: Stu Jacobs (NZL)
Injured: 7. Steven OLD; 9. Craig HENDERSON; 20. Liam LITTLE;
Suspended: 11. Dan KEAT;
Cautions: 14. Shaun VAN ROOYEN 34’; 8. Cole PEVERLEY 80’;
Red Cards: None
Goals: 17. Daniel ELLENSOHN 43’, 58’; 18’. Costa BARBAROUSES 60’, 69’; 10. Jeremy BROCKIE 86’;
Referee: Rakesh VARMAN (FIJ)
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew ACHARI (FIJ)
Assistant Referee 2: Michael JOSEPH (VAN)
Fourth Official: Lencie FRED
OFC MENS OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
STANDINGS
|
|
PL. |
W. |
L. |
GF. |
GA. |
PTS. |
GD. |
||
|
1. |
Solomon Islands |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
22 |
1 |
9 |
+21 |
|
2. |
New Zealand |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
3 |
9 |
+6 |
|
3. |
Fiji |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
17 |
3 |
6 |
+14 |
|
4. |
Vanuatu |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
-3 |
|
5. |
Papua New Guinea |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
18 |
0 |
-14 |
|
6. |
Cook Islands |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
24 |
0 |
-24 |
GOLDEN SHOE AWARD
|
No. |
Player |
Country |
Goals |
|
21. |
Benjamin TOTORI |
SOL |
10 |
|
16. |
Malakai TIWA |
FIJ |
7 |
|
7. |
Alick MAEMAE |
SOL |
4 |
|
8. |
Alvin SINGH |
FIJ |
3 |
|
18. |
Costa BARBAROUSES |
NZL |
3 |
|
17. |
Joses NAWO |
SOL |
3 |
|
17.. |
Maciu DUNADAMU |
FIJ |
2 |
|
3. |
Shameel RAO |
FIJ |
2 |
|
10. |
Jeremy BROCKIE |
NZL |
2 |
|
17. |
Daniel ELLENSOHN |
NZL |
2 |
|
14. |
Raymond GUNEMBA |
PNG |
2 |
|
115. |
Joachim RANDE |
SOL |
2 |
|
15. |
Joachim WAROI |
SOL |
2 |
|
11. |
Jeffry NIMANIAN |
VAN |
2 |
|
14. |
Roy KRISHNA |
FIJ |
1 |
|
5. |
Krishna SAMY |
FIJ |
1 |
|
10. |
Cole PEVERLEY |
NZL |
1 |
|
7. |
Steven OLD |
NZL |
1 |
|
13. |
Mathias APO |
PNG |
1 |
|
10. |
Tau WINNIE |
PNG |
1 |
|
10. |
Franklyn FORAU |
SOL |
1 |