New Zealand survived a late scare from New Caledonia before completing a 3-2 win in the final game of match day five at the OFC Futsal Championships in Suva this evening.
Both sides were determined to finish the tournament on a positive note after making tough work of the earlier rounds.
For New Caledonia it brought an end to their first international Futsal tournament and they went close to snatching a point after trailing by two goals with five minutes to go.
New Caledonia opened the scoring in the eight minute thanks to an own goal by New Zealand defender Marvin Eakins.
They were level again one minute later when Joshua Martin poked home from close range after a tidy New Zealand build up.
New Zealand took the lead in the 17th minute when Victor Zaia provided reward for a dominating spell of possession.
Bakr Al Saudi scored his ninth goal of the tournament with five minutes to go and it seemed New Zealand had the match sown up.
But New Caledonia responded one minute later with a sweeping counter attack and a Edouard Muracciolii goal created a nervous final five minutes for New Zealand Coach Erkin Osman.
“The game didn’t need to be a heart attack but it was in the end,” said Osman. “We got into a comfortable two goal lead and then nearly threw it away again with some bad decisions in important areas.”
“But in the end the boys dug deep. We knew this game was important and the next one too because we want to finish the tournament on a positive note.”
“Every player was strong out there for us today and I was proud of our performance.”
New Caledonia Coach Eric Michalak said it was always going to be difficult to get up for the last game of the tournament.
“Today my guys were to slow and they only came alive in the last ten minutes. It was our first time at an international tournament and it was very good for learning and experience and developing New Caledonian Futsal.”
Photos by Marc Peretic Wilson
NCL: 1. Ronan EUZEN (GK); 3. Alexandre ROSSO; 4. Albert HNAILOLO; 5. Jerry IARUEL; 7. Edouard MURACCIOLII;
SUBS: 2. Jean Phillipe WEMAMA; 6. Benoit MOGLIA; 8. Yvan POUROUORO; 9. Yoan GARIN; 10. Marcias GINO RENE; 11. Stevens GUILLEMIN; 16. Ronald GAYON (RGK);
Goals: Own Goal 4. Marvin Eakins (NZL); 7. Edouard MURACCIOLII 36’;
Coach: Michalak ERIC (NCL)
NZL: 1. Elias BILLEH (GK); 4. Marvin EAKINS; 8. Joshua MARTIN; 10. Ouadhah RAGUED; 14. Bakr Al SAUDI;
SUBS: 20. Clayton CHAPPELL (RGK); 5. Yukin NAIDOO; 3. Andrew GWILLIAM; 19. Michael CORRINGHAM; 12. Luke FIELD; 17. Victor ZAIA; 23. Gregory O’CONNOR;
Goals: 8. Joshua MARTIN 9’, 17. Victor ZAIA 27’; 14. Bakr Al SAUDI 35’;
Coach: Erkin Osman (AUS)