Photo Credit: Stuart Franklin – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
A late Ben Waine goal ensured New Zealand began their Olympic adventure in the men’s football tournament with a win in Nice, France.
With tough fixtures still to come in against hosts France and the USA, it was vitally important that Darren Bazeley’s side picked up three points against their African opponents in a bid to qualify for the knockout stage.
They had the perfect opportunity to open the scoring when – following a VAR check – a penalty was awarded after Sam Sutton was brought down in the area by Guinea goalkeeper Soumaila Sylla.
Captain Matt Garbett stepped up to take but his effort was dragged wide and the score remained 0-0.
A minute later however and Garbett would make amends. Capitalising on a sloppy pass out from the back by Sylla, before driving into the box and finishing low under the ‘keeper to break the deadlock.
Guinea enjoyed much of the possession as the match wore on and, having had an earlier effort chalked off, earned the equaliser that their endeavour deserved in the 72nd minute.
Anderlecht’s Amadou Diawara’s powerful shot from the edge of the box flashed past Alex Paulsen – perhaps unsighted by the presence of Tyler Bindon in his line of sight – and Guinea had their first men’s Olympic goal since 1968
The parity would only last a matter of minutes as Ben Waine would have the crucial and ultimately decisive intervention for New Zealand.
Lachlan Bayliss was the architect, moving into space well to receive the ball on the edge of the Guinea box, before squaring to Waine, who finished clinically to make it 2-1 and give the Kiwis three points to kick off their campaign in France.