LAUTOKA – New Zealand brushed aside Cook Islands by 8-0 and will now turn its attention to the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) to confirm its place at the XXIX Olympiad Men’s Football Tournament in Beijing.
Cook Islands got eleven players behind the ball in an effort to finish this tournament as respectably as possible. That forlorn hope was shattered as early as the 8th minute when Phil Edginton finished from close range after latching onto a Jeremy Brockie corner.
Brockie doubled New Zealand’s lead on 15 minutes when he guided a header past Cook Islands goalkeeper Remi Wearing. The result was never in doubt after that yet New Zealand couldn’t find its way past a Cook Islands team relying as much on good fortune as sheer physical effort to avoid humiliation.
By midway through the second half Cook Islands resistance was showing signs of disintegration in the sweltering heat combined with the physical, mental and professional edge of opponents by now Beijing-bound.
Four goals in eleven minutes to Sam Messam, Daniel Ellensohn, Jason Hayne and Costa Barbarouses propelled New Zealand into a 6-0 lead and any lingering doubts of a conservative score line were extinguished for Cook Islands.
Jason Hayne added a seventh goal for New Zealand in the 78th minute before captain Aaron Scott provided the eighth and final goal in the 90th minute to complete a happy afternoon’s work for the Oly-Whites, Stu Jacobs and New Zealand Football.
INTERVIEW WITH NEW ZEALAND COACH STU JACOBS CLICK HERE
(PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY NZF MEDIA/FIFA.com)
OFC MEN’S OLYMPIC FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
MATCH NO.10
NEW ZEALAND vs. SOLOMON ISLANDS
CHURCHILL PARK
LAUTOKA
FIJI
KICK-OFF: 14H30 (FIJI TIME)
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. Arnold KENI (3. Stanton HILA 80’); 5. Haddis AENGARI; 6. Nelson SALE; 7. Alick MAEMAE; 10. Franklyn FORAU (15. Joachim WAROI 55’); 13. Eddie NGAITINI; 17. Joses NAWO; 19. Joachim RANDE (11. Michael FIFI 65’): 20. Gibson HOSEA; 21. Benjamin TOTORI.
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 SALE 85’.
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. |
New Zealand |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
3 |
15 |
+16 |
|
2. |
Solomon Islands |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
25 |
5 |
12 |
+20 |
|
3. |
Fiji |
5 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
21 |
6 |
9 |
+15 |
|
4. |
Papua New Guina |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
17 |
20 |
6 |
-3 |
|
5. |
Vanua |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
16 |
3 |
-10 |
|
6. |
Cook Islands |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
38 |
0 |
-38 |