LAUTOKA – Composure, experience and mental toughness got New Zealand over the line in a tough match as Solomon Islands Olympic Games hopes all but vanished in a flurry of red cards in Lautoka today.
The match began at a frenetic pace until Steven Old headed home a corner from close range after just five minutes that gave New Zealand an advantage it rarely looked like surrendering.
That advantage took on even more significance when Solomon Islands midfielder Alick Maemae was shown a straight red card by referee Lencie Fred after the former Youngheart Manawatu player went into a tackle with Cole Tinkler with his studs up.
The task for Luke Eroi’s team looked impossible at that point but to Solomon Islands credit they battled on with Nelson Sale pushed forward into midfield and Joachim Rande and Joses Nawo still an ever present threat.
New Zealand nullified that threat with some impressive performances notably that of Cole Peverley. Peverley’s composure, energy and controlled aggression in a match where tackles flew in at regular intervals, not all of them measured.
Another stand-out performer was Cole Tinkler. The Team Wellington defender managed to get forward into good areas and his distribution was excellent. The effectiveness of Tinkler’s passing could be measured by the number of fouls inflicted on the player who himself rarely went looking for trouble but seemed to find it.
The threat of Benjamin Totori was a constant with the Waitakere United player only able to get two half-chances on goal in a tight match as Steven Old and Michael Boxall closed down the pacy striker at every opportunity.
Whenever Totori found himself in possession, he was invariably shut down by a cluster of white jerseys each determined not to allow the mercurial marksman any room.
Solomon Islands hopes were virtually extiniguished when Totori – frustrated and tired – lashed out and received a second yellow card and then a red card.
Solomon Islands were already 2-0 by this stage after Craig Henderson had fired in a 70th minute long range shot from just outside the penalty area that gave Shadrock Ramoni utterly no chance.
When the final whistle went there were scenes of jubilation amongst the New Zealand Oly-Whites and a small contingent of fans behind the dugout indulged in furious flag waving and celebrations.
Coach Stu Jacobs was understandably delighted with the result and performance.
“I guess scoring reasonably early on settled us down and once Maemae was sent off they [the Solomon Islands] went very, very flat.
They didn’t really create a chance, just shot from range which showed we defended really well as a group.
“Craig scored with an absolute pile-driver from 25m and when they lost Totori it was all over. It’s a great result.”
Solomon islands coach Luke Eroi said his team’s dreams of Beijing were over despite New Zealand requiring just a point to gaurentee qualification.
“No. It’s over for us. We had to get something today and we didn’t. I think the dream is over.
The red card and early goal were a blow for us and we never recovered. We need greater mental strength in situations like these ones.”
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY NEW ZEALAND FOOTBALL MEDIA (OFC U-20 Men’s Championship – New Zealand 2007)
OFC MEN’S OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
MATCH NO.10
LAUTOKA
KICK-OFF: 14H30 (
NZL: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY; 2. Aaron SCOTT; 5. Michael BOXALL; 7. Steven OLD; 8. Cole PEVERLEY (3. Phil EDGINTON 90’); 9. Craig HENDERSON (10. Jeremy BROCKIE 86’); 12. Hone FOWLER; 14. Shaun VAN ROOYEN; 15. Cole TINKLER; 17. Daniel ELLENSOHN; 18. Costa BARBAROUSES (6. Sam MESSAM 53’).
SUBS: 4. Jason HAYNE; 13. Joel MATHEWS; 16. Greg DRAPER; 20. Liam LITTLE [rgk]; 21. Roy BELL [rgk].
COACH: Stuy JACOBS (NZL)
SUSPENDED: 11. Dan KEAT.
CAUTIONS: 15. Cole TINKLER; 9. Craig HENDERSON; 12. Hone FOWLER.
RED CARDS: None
GOALS: 7. Steven OLD 5’; 9. Craig HENDERSON 70’.
SOL: 1. Shadrock RAMONI; 4.
SUBS: 8. Nathan KERA; 12. Charles MAEBULE; 16. John WAYNE; 18. John ANTA; 22. Leon LEKEZOTO [rgk]; 23. Eddie RAMO [rgk].
CAUTIONS: 21. Benjamin TOTORI 45+1’; 21. Benjamin TOTORI 73’; 6. Nelson
RED CARDS: 7. Alick MAEMAE 13’; 21. Benjamin TOTORI 73’.
GOALS: None.
REFEREE: Lencie FRED (VAN)
ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: Mahit CHILIA (VAN)
ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: Andrew ACHARI (FIJ)
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Rakesh VARMAN (FIJ)
OFC MENS OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
STANDINGS
|
|
PL. |
W. |
D. |
L. |
GF. |
GA. |
PTS. |
GD. |
|
|
1. |
|
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
3 |
12 |
+8 |
|
2. |
|
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
22 |
3 |
9 |
+19 |
|
3. |
|
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
19 |
3 |
9 |
+16 |
|
4. |
|
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
9 |
3 |
-5 |
|
5. |
|
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
10 |
18 |
3 |
-8 |
|
6. |
|
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
30 |
0 |
-30 |
GOLDEN SHOE AWARD
|
No. |
Player |
Country |
Goals |
|
21. |
Benjamin TOTORI |
SOL |
10 |
|
16. |
Malakai TIWA |
FIJ |
8 |
|
7. |
Alick MAEMAE |
SOL |
4 |
|
8. |
Alvin SINGH |
FIJ |
3 |
|
18. |
Costa BARBAROUSES |
NZL |
3 |
|
14. |
Raymond GUNEMBA |
PNG |
3 |
|
17. |
Joses NAWO |
SOL |
3 |
|
10. |
Tau WINNIE |
PNG |
3 |
|
14. |
|
FIJ |
3 |
|
3. |
Shameel RAO |
FIJ |
2 |
|
10. |
Jeremy BROCKIE |
NZL |
2 |
|
17. |
Daniel ELLENSOHN |
NZL |
2 |
|
7. |
Steven OLD |
NZL |
|