AUCKLAND – Welcome to North Harbour Stadium in Auckland’s North Shore for this 2008 OFC Nations Cup/2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Oceanian Qualifier between newly crowned Oceania champions New Zealand and South Pacific Games gold medallists New Caledonia.
New Zealand has already won the OFC Nations Cup and scooped qualification for the FIFA Confederations Cup – South Africa 2009 and a stage three qualifier against the 5th place team in Asia for a berth at the FIFA World Cup South Africa™.
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0′- We are 17 minutes away from kick-off at North Harbour Stadium with a small but vocal crowd gathered for what promises to be a carnival atmosphere as New Zealand is crowned OFC Nations Cup winners for the fourth time in its history.
The national anthems are concluded and the match is moments away from a start in a relaxed atmosphere with New Zealand’s passage to the FIFA Confederations Cup and OFC Nations Cup title already sealed.
A minutes silence is observed for the late Charles J. Dempsey MBE, father of the Oceania Football Confederation and former New Zealand Football Association Chairman during the halcyon days of Kiwi football in the early 1980’s.
1′- New Caledonia will begin the match attacking the goal from left to right in front of the main stand here at North Harbour Stadium sporting their grey shirts with red shorts and socks.
New Zealand will use their away strip, an unfamiliar all black kit.
2′- New Zealand’s Chris JAMES launches the first attack of the match combining with Tony LOCHHEAD and Jarrod Smith before unleashing a shot high over Michel HNE’s crossbar
3′- Free-kick to New Zealand after Simon ELLIOTT is fouled but the ball is headed clear.
4′- New Caledonia has adopted a 4-5-1 formation and New Zealand keeps possession at the back comfortably between Ryan NELSEN and Ben SIGMUND
Michel HMAE jostles Tony LOCHHEAD for possession
5′- Its aerial ping pong in the opening five minutes with SIGMUND launching a long ball forward
8′- Its all New Zealand as a strong challenge on Chris JAMES results in appeals for a penalty but its waved away by referee HAUATA!
9′- New Zealand almost take the lead as the ball crashes into the crossbar and falls to Shane SMELTZ but his snap shot is saved spectacularly by Michel HNE!
How did that stay out?!
11′- New Caledonia look to break clear but a poor choice of pass by Michel HMAE sees the impetus lost
12′- Another New Caledonia counter-attack breaksdown and Chris JAMES has a long range shot that flies narrowly wide of HNE’s upright
13′- GOAL! A cross from Chris JAMES is headed home by Shane SMELTZ but the linesman has disallowed it for offside!
15′- New Caledonia’s back four catch New Zealand offside for the third time in quick succession
Free-kick to New Caledonia as Roy KAYARA is brought down some 30 metres from Mark PASTON’s goal…could be a chance for Pierre WAJOKA to shoot…
16′ His shot hits the upright and bounces to safety!
18′- New Zealand look to be the likelier of the two teams to score first but do look vulnerable on the counter-attack
21′- New Caledonia get caught in possession by SMELTZ
22′- Clever lob by Simon ELLIOTT for Tony LOCHHEAD to run onto his cross is harmless but Andre SINEDO miscues and its the first corner of the match
ELLIOTT’s corner is fumbled by Michel HNE and headed clear but David MULLIGAN’s long range effort balloons harmlessly over the bar.
23′- New Caledonia attack and WAKANUMUNE links a nice pass through for Michel HMAE to run onto but Mark PASTON saves comfortably.
24′- New Zealand continue to play aerial long balls into the top third of the pitch but Georges WADENGES and Andre SINEDO have passed that test well so far
25′- Duncan OUGHTON takes a pass from Chris JAMES but his shot disappears over the bar
26′- A Tony LOCHHEAD long ball appears to strike SINEDO on the hand but the referee hasn’t picked that up.
27′- Still 0-0 here at North Harbour Stadium – the OFC Nations Cup champions New Zealand have yet to find a way past the New Caledonia rearguard
28′- OFFSIDE – Pierre WAJOKA’s throughball finds HMAE but he’s pulled back by the Assistant Referee
29′- Jarrod SMITH cannot connect with a downward header from just a yard out from an inviting New Caledonia goal!
30′- ELLIOTT, JAMES and LOCHHEAD combine nicely but New Caledonia’s SINEDO heads the ball clear
32′- Plenty of encouragement for New Caledonia after half an hour – Pierre WAJOKA is playing well when given room but he can’t quite link the play up for his team at the crucial moment so far
33′- New Zealand look comfortable but perhaps haven’t made a breakthrough yet
34′- Shane SMELTZ dances his through on goal but his cross is missed by a glut of players
Jarrod SMITH retrieves the ball and his shot is deflected for a corner but it comes to nothing
36′- Marius MAPOU clatters into Chris JAMES and is lucky not to get a yellow card
37′- JAMES wastes the free kick as it rockets high and wide
41′- New Zealand has dominated but without getting a breakthrough
43′- New Caledonia will be happy with a 0-0 scoreline at the break
44′- Well, the first half is heading to a close with the match lacking any urgency as Ricki HERBERT’s team appear to be coasting
45′- WADENGES clear
s a cross from the left for New Caledonia
Additional Time: 2 minutes
45+1′- David MULLIGAN shoots but his effort is blocked
45’+2′- Jarrod SMITH effort goes just wide of Michel HNE’s post!
45’+2 – Referee HAUATA bringsthe first half to a close.
HALFTIME: NZL 0 NCL 0
46′- SUBSTITUTE 8. Roy KAYARA is replaced by 12. Luther WAHNYAMALLA
47′- Duncan OUGHTON’s shot is saved by Michel HNE and Jarrod SMITH puts the rebound over the bar!
50′- GOAL! Cross by Chris JAMES is headed home from close range by Shane SMELTZ! 1-0 to New Zealand!
52′- The goal has settled New Zealand down and brought a spring to the step of Ryan NELSEN and his team
53′- YELLOW CARD 14. Tim BROWN – New Zealand
55′- A free-kick to New Zealand as Simon ELLIOTT is brought down
56′- David MULLIGAN’s clever free kick curls around the wall and Michel HNE saves in rather unorthodox fashion at the apex of the upright and crossbar
57′- Great work by Jarrod SMITH down the right but Simon ELLIOTT cannot convert his cutback when it looked easier to score!
New Zealand has stretched the game into wider areas and is now starting to open up New Caledonia’s stubborn defence
61′- Great cross by Duncan OUGHTON evades SMELTZ and SMITH forcing WADENGES to head clear
63′- SUBSTITUTE 9. Allan HNAUTRA is replaced by 11. Patrick DIAIKE comes on for NCL
64′- SUBSTITUTE 6. Ryan NELSEN is replaced by 12. Andrew BOYENS for NZL
67′- SUBSTITUTE 8. Duncan OUGHTON is replaced by 15. Jeremy CHRISTIE for NZL
68′- The match has lost some of its bite as Ryan NELSEN departs the scene to the applause of local fans
69′- GOAL! A cross by Tony LOCHHEAD is swept home with a precise right foot instep volley from substitute Jeremy CHRISTIE!
71′- Pierre WAJOKA shoots for goal but it all has a forlorn look about it with his team 0-2 down
76′-GOAL! 10. Shane SMELTZ scores with a great right foot shot from 18 yards out!
81′- The match has opened up with the result already decided and New Caledonia looking decidedly outmatched
84′ SUBSTITUTE 10. Shane SMELTZ is replaced by 13. Steven OLD for NZL
84′- SUBSTITUTE 15. Jean Patrick WAKANUMUNE is replaced by 13. Cedric NONMEU for NCL
87′- Marius MAPOU’s left foot free kick from 35 metres whistles safely into the arms of Mark PASTON
89′- Jeremy CHRISTIE’s near post cross somehow misses out Jarrod SMITH and Chris JAMES! It could so easily have been 4-0!
90′- New Zealand has won this match comfortably in the end
Additional Time: 3 minutes
FULLTIME: NZL 3 NCL 0
OFC NATIONS CUP 2008/2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA
OCEANIAN QUALIFIERS
Standings 10.09.08
|
PL |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
PTS |
GD |
||
|
1. |
New Zealand |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
4 |
15 |
+10 |
|
2. |
New Caledonia |
6 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
12 |
10 |
8 |
+2 |
|
3. |
Fiji |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
11 |
4 |
-5 |
|
4. |
Vanuatu |
6 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
13 |
4 |
-8 |
Photos: Marc Peretic Wilson
Nelsen at the ready – New Zealand skipper Ryan Nelsen before kick-off
Home advantage – North Harbour Stadium draws a 6000 strong crowd for the OFC champions
Small Fans – Kiwi youngsters with a pensive look ahead of kick-off
Pierre Wajoka shields the ball from Jarrod Smith
Shane Smeltz has the ball in the net but its disallowed for offside
New Zealand vs. New Caledonia
Wednesday 10 June, 2008
North Harbour Stadium
Auckland
New Zealand
2008 OFC Nations Cup/2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™
NZL: 1. Mark PASTON (gk); 2. David MULLIGAN, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Simon ELLIOTT, 5. Ben SIGMUND, 6. Ryan NELSEN (c) (12. Andrew BOYENS 64′), 8. Duncan OUGHTON (15. Jeremy CHRISTIE 67′), 10. Shane SMELTZ (12. Steven OLD 84′), 11. Jarrod SMITH, 14. Tim BROWN, 16. Chris JAMES.
SUBSTITUTES: 18. Glen MOSS [rgk], 9. Jeremy BROCKIE, 17. Allan PEARCE.
GOALS: 10. Shane SMELTZ 50′, 76′; 15. Jeremy CHRISTIE 69′.
YELLOW CARDS: 14. Tim BROWN 53′
NCL: 3. Jonathan KAKOU, 4. Andre SINEDO, 5. Georges WADENGES, 6. Marius MAPOU, 8. Roy KAYARA (12. Luther WAHNYAMALLA 46′), 9. Allan HNAUTRA (11. Patrick DIAIKE 63′), 10. Pierre WAJOKA (c), 14. Ramon DJAMALI, 15. Jean Patrick WAKANUMUNE (13. Cedric NONMEU 84′), 17. Michel HMAE, 20. Michel HNE (gk.
SUBSTITUTES: 1. Jean Marc OUNEMOA (rgk), 2. Noel KAUDRE, 7. Bertrand KAI,, 16. Loic HOUALA.
REFEREE: Norbert HAUATA (TAH)
ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Phillipe REVEL (TAH)
ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Teariki GOODWIN (COK)
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Andrew MOLI (SOL)