NEW ZEALAND TRIUMPH IN LAUTOKA

Ivan Vicelich and Shane Smeltz were the chief destroyers for New Zealand after the Kiwis ground out an important 2-0 victory against a physical and competitive Fiji team here at Churchill Park, Lautoka, today.

But New Zealand didn't have it all their way with Fiji contributing much to a pulsating and compelling encounter on a slow surface before a crowd of around 5,500.

New Zealand had to weather a storm in the opening 20 minutes with Malakai Tiwa passing up a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring barely 3 minutes into the match.

With Andy Boyens, Ivan Vicelich, Jeremy Christie all left behind him, Tiwa appeared to panic uneccessarily before hitting a weak trundling effort at Mark Paston's goal.

New Zealand started to calm proceedings somewhat and signalled their intent when David Mulligan thundered a long range effort into the midriff of Malakai Kainihewe from 25m.

The physical nature of the match was summed up when Toronto FC defender Andy Boyens clattered into Pita Rabo near the touchline near the New Zealand technical area with a horrible head wound requiring the lanky defender to receive treatment.

New Zealand recovered from the torrid opening spell to take the lead through defender Ivan Vicelich after 32 minutes.

Vicelich timed a perfect run into the Fiji penalty area after the Fiji defence stood watching with arms raised appealing in vain for offside.

The Dutch-based defender managed to get under a bouncing ball before hitting a speculative looping header upwards and over the on-rushing Simione Tamanisau, the ball taking one bounce before the goal line before bouncing into the roof of the empty net.

Churchill Park was thrown into stunned silence except for the raucous cheers of the celebrating New Zealand players and bench, the significance of the opening strike not lost on them.

The goal took the wind out of the Fiji team while New Zealand used the comfort of their 1-0 lead to consolidate and settle the match down from the frenetic opening pace of the first half an hour.

There were still anxious moments though for both teams with Vakatalesau ruled offside on two occasions with New Zealand experiencing similar frustrations with Smeltz a repeat offender.

Roy Krishna was again the main threat for Fiji with the diminutive striker firing a deflected shot narrowly wide of Mark Paston's goal after some good build-up play by Ronil Kumar and Salesh Kumar.

For New Zealand the front pairing of Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen were a constant if not immediately clinical danger with captain Tim Brown putting in a power of work in a combative midfield encounter with his opponents.

But slowly New Zealand’s superior quality shone through – capped by Smeltz’s classy finish for his fourth All Whites goal – as the All Whites went top of the Nations Cup table to put the disappointment of Saturday’s postponed North Harbour Stadium clash against Fiji behind them.

“The pleasing thing for me tonight is we showed some real character,” Herbert said.

“I’m pleased with how we ground it out. We talked extensively at the hotel beforehand about how it didn’t matter what the performance looked like, we just wanted to get a result.

“We stuttered along at times and probably didn’t get players forward like we wanted to but at the end of the day I’m delighted for the players because it’s three points. That’ll give everybody a bit of confidence and it’s given us some momentum going into next’s month’s home and away fixtures against Vanuatu.”

Herbert was particularly pleased with how his players coped with the humid conditions and the long grass which slowed the ball up on a surface that was also frustratingly bumpy.

“It wasn’t ideal for how we want to play but we’re going to have to cope with those sorts of things. It was always going to be tough.’

Fiji coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti had no complaints at the end of a match in which the scoreline was a fair reflection of proceedings.

"Playing against a team like New Zealand is a much different prospect than playing against an island team. Today our mentality, our lack of concentration let us down for the first goal and I said before the game to our players what could happen if we did this.

For me, we still played good football and I was happy with the way we played. Roy Krishna was good today and so were a number of our players. This was a good performance for us our only disappointment was the result," Buzzetti said.

FIJI: 1. Simione TAMANISAU (gk); 4. Samuela VULA; 5. Ronil KUMAR (8. Pita BALEITOGA 59'); 7. Roy KRISHNA; 10. Osea VAKATALESAU; 11. Pita RABO (9. Maciu DUNADAMU 78'); 12. Peni FINAU (c); 13. Taniela WAQA; 15. Salesh KUMAR; 16. Malakai TIWA (2. Avinesh SUWAMY 71'); 17. Malakai KAINIHEWE. 

Coach: Juan Carlos BUZZETTI

Substitutes not used: 3. Shalen LAL; 6. Apisalome TURUVA; 14. Tuimasi MANUCA; 20. Shamal KUMAR (gk).

Cautions: 2. Avinesh SUWAMY (73'). 

Red cards:

Goal scorers:

NEW ZEALAND: 1. Mark PASTON (gk); 2. Jeremy CHRISTIE; 3. Tony LOCHHEAD; 4. David MULLIGAN (17. Jeff CAMPBELL 58'); 5. Andy BOYENS (15. Ben SIGMUND 64'); 7. Ivan VICELICH; 8. Tim BROWN (c); 9. Shane SMELTZ; 10. Chris KILLEN (13. Jarrod SMITH 88'); 11. Leo BERTOS; 16. Duncan OUGHTON.

Coach: Ricki HERBERT

Substitutes not used: 12. James PRITCHETT; 14. Chris JAMES; 18. James BANNATYNE (gk).

Cautions: 10. Chris KILLEN (85'); 17. Jeff CAMPBELL (89'). 

Red cards: None

Goal scorers: 7. Ivan VICELICH (32'); 9. Shane SMELTZ (86'). 

Referee: Jair MARRUFO (USA)

Assistant Referee 1: Charles MORGANTE (USA)

Assistant Referee 2: Adam WIENCKOWSKI (USA)

Fourth Official: Baldomero TOLEDO (USA)

OFC Nations Cup/2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Qualifiers

Standings -

NEXT FIXTURES:

17th NOVEMBER - Fiji vs. New Caledonia

17th NOVEMBER - Vanuatu vs. New Zealand

21st NOVEMBER - New Zealand vs. Vanuatu

21st NOVEMBER - New Caledonia vs. Fiji