New Zealand has defeated Fiji 2-1 in the first Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) `Football for Life’ match at Post Fiji Stadium, Suva.

There were spectacular goals aplenty despite the encounter suffering because of the bobbly surface as both teams struggled to piece together any coherent passing moves as the ball took unpredictable
turns off the pock-marked surface.

Fiji began the match brightly creating an early chance to take the lead when Osea Vakatalesau crossed for Josaia Bukalidi only for his club and country team-mate to head meekly into the arms of New
Zealand keeper Jacob Spoonley.

It was the Kiwis that took the lead after 13 minutes though when Sam Messam hooked a speculative ball into the penalty area toward Craig Henderson who looped an acrobatic bicycle kick over the
stranded Ben Mateinaqara and into an empty net.

The match became a war of attrition after Henderson’s goal as both teams struggled to seize control of the midfield. Fiji midfielder Ronil Kumar received a yellow card in the 23rd minute for a
crunching challenge on New Zealand’s Craig Wylie and Stuart Hogg joined him in the 41st minute after a similarly hard challenge on Fiji’s Peni Finau.

New Zealand XI coach Jonathan Gould made four second-half substitutions and handed David Samson, Cole Peverley, Joel Mathews and Daniel Ellensohn opportunities to shine.

The introduction of Ellensohn paid dividends with the striker proving a good foil for Sam Messam. Messam extended New Zealand XI’s lead with a wonder strike on 63 minutes after picking up a loose
ball in a vacant Fijian midfield and lashing home an unstoppable half volley from 25m out. Mateinaqara could only graze the ball as it fizzed into the top right hand corner of Fiji’s net to give New
Zealand XI a 2-0 lead.

Fiji coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti made six second-half changes introducing Roy Krishna, Viliame Toma, Pita Baleitoga, Malakai Tiwa, Petero Dauniseka and Pita Rabo.

With both teams making so many changes the pace of the game slowed and allowed Fiji to stage a comeback with Pita Rabo scoring an excellent goal from a free-kick awarded after Kiwi keeper Spoonley
dashed out of his penalty area and handled a ball over the top of his back four.

Spoonley’s transgression earned a yellow card and Rabo converted the free-kick after curling the ball over the New Zealand XI wall and into the net with Spoonley helpless.

Referee Dhirendra Kewal added four minutes of injury time in which Roy Krishna had two chances to draw Fiji level but missed by the narrowest of angles.

Fiji coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti was philosophical in defeat.

“It was a difficult game on a difficult surface but we learned a lot about our players and I think we can play a much more attractive style in the second match. I was very happy with the performance
of Roy Krishna and ok, we lost, but we had chances at the end to maybe sneak a draw,” Buzzetti said.

New Zealand XI and Fiji now travel to Lautoka for the second `Football for Life’ match on Sunday 12th August at Churchill Park scheduled for a 3:00pm kick-off.

FIJ: 1. Ben MATEINAQARA; 3. Shalen LAL (19.Roy KRISHNA 63′); 5. Ronil KUMAR (16. Malakai TIWA 45′); 7. Laisisasa GAUTAURUA (8. Pita BALEITOGA 45′); 9. Josaia BUKALIDI (Pita RABO 53′); 10. Osea
VAKATALESAU; 11. Thomas VULIVULI (Viliame TOMA 54′); 12. Peni FINAU; 13. Taniela WAQA; 15. Salesh KUMAR (Petero DAUNISEKA 75′), 17. Malakai KANIHEWE.

SUBSTITUTES: 2. Alvin AVINESH; 4. Robert WISE; 20. Shamal KUMAR.

YELLOW CARDS: 5. Ronil KUMAR 23, 12. Peni FINAU 65.

RED CARDS: None

GOALS: Pita RABO 77’min.

NZL: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY; 3. James PRITCHETT; 4. Craig WYLIE (2. Joel MATHEWS 70′); 5. Steven OLD; 6. Sam MESSAM (17. David SAMSON 87′); 7. Andy BARRON; 8. Stuart HOGG (13. Cole PEVERLEY 84′); 9. Craig
HENDERSON; 10. Jeremy BROCKIE (12. Daniel ELLENSOHN 50′); 11. Jeff CAMPBELL; 15. Aaron SCOTT.

SUBSTITUTES: 14. Sam MATHEWS; 16. Sam JASPER; 20. Roy BELL.

YELLOW CARDS: 8. Stuart HOGG 41′, 1. Jacob SPOONLEY 80′.

RED CARDS: None

GOALS: 9. Craig HENDERSON 13′, 6. Sam MESSAM 63′.

REFEREE: Dhirendra KEWAL (FIJ)

ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Nitesh Krishna NAICKER (FIJ)

ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Mohnish DAVE (FIJ)

FOURTH OFFICIAL: Bobby DAVE (FIJ)