OFC News

NEW ZEALAND LEAVE IT LATE AGAIN

Last gasp goal secures win

For the second time in a week New Zealand scored victory in the dying stages of the match as they defeated Malayisa 2-1 at North Harbour Stadium, with a late goal from Andrew Barron, after debutant Campbell Banks gave the All Whites an early lead. Safee Sali equalized for the visitors after 24 minutes before Barron rifled home to ensure victory.

New Zealand handed debuts to James Pritchett and Banks, with Jeff Fleming starting his first match in the All White shirt, in all coach Ricki Herbert made four changes to the eleven that started in Christchurch.

As with the first encounter, New Zealand started brightly with Leo Bertos again in the thick of the action. And it was Bertos who engineered the opening goal with a deft chip, which was flicked into the path of Banks, who controlled and coolly slotted past Shamsuri in the Malaysian goal.

Straight from the kick off Bertos was in action again and his teasing cross was punched off the head of the onrushing Banks, as the two looked to double the lead. In fact, Shamsuri was peppered with crosses for the duration of the first half, but dealt comfortably with all.

Noah Hickey's pace allowed him to break through the Malaysian rearguard, after a clever through ball from Shane Smeltz, himself a busy figure up front for the All Whites. Hickey was unable to find the net however, his shot sliding past the right hand upright.

At the other end the largely unemployed Glen Moss soon found himself picking the ball out of the back of the net, after Sali wrong footed Danny Hay, and then unleashed a shot that swerved late and was parried into the net by Moss who should have done better.

Neither team settled in the first half, with New Zealand playing a variation on the 4-3-3 with a traditional flat back four, three central midfielders, Bertos in an advanced role wide on the right, and a strike pairing of Smeltz and Banks. The teams entered the break locked at 1-1.

The All Whites emerged from the interval with a more traditional 4-4-2 formation, freeing Bertos and Webster in more familiar wide roles. Not surprisingly Bertos was at the centre of most of New Zealand's attacking chances, running at defenders and creating several half chances with his delivery from the right.

Bertos switched flanks in the 65th minute as New Zealand made a double substitution with Jeremy Brockie and Barron entering the match, the latter nearly opening his account with his first touch of the ball, an ominous drive from 25 yards.

Minutes later the Malaysian defence scrambled to clear after Shamsuri failed to claim a lofted ball from James Pritchett at the edge of his area. The ball fell invitingly for Bertos whose first effort was saved by the `keeper before the ball was booted to safety.

The Malaysians barely had time to rest before Smeltz wriggled his was into the penalty area only to see his shot cannon off the legs of Shamsuri. Smeltz, still with hands on head from the missed chance, was offered another opportunity as the ball was played back in at his feet, but the ensuing shot went wide.

It was then the chance of another debutant - Jarrod Smith - to test the `keeper, his snap shot from 18 yards was well held by Shamsuri. Brockie also forced Shamsuri into a good save with a dipping volley from similar distance, which was palmed away to safety.

The second half was not all one-way traffic however, but Malaysia was restricted to only a handful of shots on Moss' goal. Their fluid interplay often troubled the All Whites and in the 79th minute the visitors were nearly on the score sheet again, as a sweeping move was nearly finished by left back Chan Wing Hoong.

In the 84th minute Brockie was again denied by the impressive Shamsuri, this time from point blank range. Hickey's longball was flicked on to Smeltz into the path of the young striker, but his diving header was miraculously blocked by the `keeper. A couple of minutes later Brockie had a chance to make amends but he blasted his shot over the crossbar.

In the 88th minute Malaysia finally cracked, as they had in Christchurch, with the winner coming in similar circumstances from a set-piece. The ball broke for Barron on the left of the 6-yard box and although his first effort was blocked, the 25-year-old made no mistake with his follow up, lashing the ball in at the near post to the delight of the 9,000 spectators.

After consecutive victories over Malaysia, New Zealand will now look forward to a trip to Chile in April, before embarking on a European tour culminating in a match with Brazil in Switzerland in June.

Match Facts

Result

New Zealand 2 (Campbell Banks 18', 16. Andrew Barron 88')

Malaysia 1 (Safee Sali 24')

New Zealand - 1. Glen Moss; 2. Steven Old; 5. Danny Hay (c); 6. Jeff Fleming (16. Andrew Barron 65'); 7. Adrian Webster (19. Jeremy Brockie 65'); 8. Tim Brown; 9. Shane Smeltz; 11. Leo Bertos; 14. Noah Hickey; 15. James Pritchett; 17. Campbell Banks (12. Jarrod Smith 70')

Subs not used - 3. Jeremy Christie; 4. Cole Tinkler; 10. Brent Fisher; 13. Craig Wylie; 18. Andrew Boyens; 20. Ross Nicholson

Cautions - none

Malaysia - 22. Shamsuri Mustafa; 4. Ronny Harun; 5. Zamani Misbah; 6. Thiru Veeran; 7. Fadzli Saari (16. Azi Shahril Azmi 75' / 19. Azlan Zainal 87'); 8. Safee Sali; 9. Amri Yahyah (10. Rasiah Surendren 59'); 11. Rudie Ramli; 14. Hardi Jaafar; 17. Nantha Kalliappan; 18. Chan Wing Hoong

Subs not used - 1. Faizal Abd Rashid; 2. Saiful Mohammed; 15. Saramsak Kram

Cautions - 14. Hardi Jaafar (48'); 8. Safee Sali (88'); 10. Rasiah Surendren (90')

Referee - Neil Fox (New Zealand)

Assistant Referee - Paul Dunham (New Zealand)

Assistant Referee - Steve Budai (New Zealand)

Fourth Official - Kevin Stoltenkamp (New Zealand)