OFC U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP TAHITI 2008 – NEW ZEALAND GO TOP ON MATCH DAY ONE

 New Zealand have shot to the top of the group at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) U-20 Championship in Tahiti after defeating Fiji 3-0 in sweltering hot conditions at Stade Paea.

New Zealand lead the four-team tournament – which decides Oceania’s representative at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt next year – ahead of New Caledonia and Tahiti who played out a 0-0 draw in a late kick-off.

Temperatures soared to 37 degrees before the 4pm kick-off but the New Zealanders remained cool to dispatch Fiji with second half goals to Costa Barbarouses, Adam McGeorge and Greg Draper.

Despite a goal-less first half, head coach Stu Jacobs said he was always confident the breakthrough would come.

“The signs were always there in the first half with Barbarouses hitting the post and Draper going one-on-one with the keeper, so there was always a good chance we could open them up in after halftime,” Jacobs said.

The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Wellington Phoenix striker Costa Barbarouses latched on to a ball played over the defence and neatly lobbed the advancing keeper from 20 yards.

Adam McGeorge extended the lead six minutes later when he met Greg Draper’s cross with a classy first time volley, before Draper grabbed one himself three minutes from fulltime with a neat turn inside the penalty area and a top-corner finish.

Jacobs lauded an overall team performance made more pleasing given the limited build-up and extreme conditions.

“Our defensive display was outstanding. Our back four were solid and the defensive work of midfield pair Michael Eager and Adam McGeorge – with all the second phase possession they won for us – was immense considering that on Thursday we didn’t know what system we would be playing.

“All three goal scorers deserved their reward. Costa looked like the Costa of old, Draper always looked likely and Adam McGeorge – along with Tim Myers – was probably the player of the day.”

The second match of the afternoon told the story of two strong defences as Tahiti and New Caledonia both battled hard but were unable to unlock the respective backlines.

Tahitian goalkeepers Teheipuarii Hauata and New Caledonian stopper Nicolas Iwa both made a string of fine saves to keep their sides in the match and keep their championship hopes alive.

Jacobs see’s New Zealand’s next match against Tahiti on Monday (local time) as make or break.

“We saw Tahiti as the main threat going into this tournament,” Jacobs said.

“They’ve been together a long time as a group and have been playing in their national league this season. They’ll be very good technically and have the crowd on their side, but if we can step up again we have the quality to see off their challenge.”

Fiji preparing for their opening match with New Zealand

New Zealand

Fiji

New Caledonia

Tahiti

New Caledonia v Tahiti

OFC U-20 Championship Tahiti 2008 – Match One

Tahiti

New Zealand (0) 3 (7. Costa BARBAROUSES 58′; 8. Adam MCGEORGE 64′; 9. Greg DRAPER 87′;)

Fiji (0) 0

FIJ: 1. Wasim ALI; 2.Peniame DROVA;3.Amani MAKOE;4.Josefata NEIBULI (15. Jese ILIMOTAMA 56’); 5. ROMUERO; 6. Esava NAQELECA; 11. Monit CHAND; 12. Archie WATKINS (18. Joseva BASUDRA 69’); 16. Ranjesh PRASAD; 17. Samuela DRUDRU (10. Nasoni MEREKE 77’) ; 19. Maciu TUILAU;

Substitues not used: 7. Sumeet KRISHAN; 8. Ratu Vula BONAVEIDOGO; 9. Taione KEREVANUA; 13. James MCKAY14. Velagio DRAUNIMASI; 20. Filimone BOLETAWA;

Coach:  Carlos BUZZETTI (FIJ)

Yellow Cards: 6. Esava NAQELECA 66′

Red Cards: None

NZL: 1.Rhyss KEANE; 2. Tim MYERS; 3. Ian HOGG (C); 5. Sam CAMPBELL; 6. Michael EAGER; 7. Costa BARBAROUSES; 8. Adam MCGEORGE (15. Michael PICKERING 83’); 9. Greg DRAPER;  12. Cory CHETTLEBURGH (18. Sam BLACKBURN 25’) ; 14. Jonathan RAJ; 17. Jake MATHEWS (10. Milos NIKOLIC 86’);

Substitutes not used: 4. Fin MILNE; 11. John NIYONSABA; 13. Ash SOLLY; 16. Alex BARLOW;19. Nick KEOWN-ROBSON; 20. Jake GLEESON;

Coach: Stu JACOBS (NZL)

Yellow Cards: None

Red Cards: None

OFC U-20 Championship Tahiti 2008 – Match Two

Saturday 14 December 2008

Tahiti

Tahiti (0) 0

New Caledonia (0) 0

TAH: 2. Tauirai TEIVA (9. Hiva KAMOISE 27′); 3. Stephane FAATIARAU; 4. Teheivarii LUDIVION; 5. Ariihau TERIITAU; 6. Heimano BOUREBARE; 7. Garry ROCHETTE; 11. Stanley ATANY (15. Rainui TZE YU 90′); 19. Marama AMAU (8. Heiarii TAVANAE 69′); 20. Lorenzo TEHAU; 21. Alvin TEHAU; 22. Teheipuarii HAUATA (GK);

Substitutes not used: 23. Ralph HEITAA;  12. Rangitea BENETT; 17. Nahui TEIEFITU; 18. Tehau BENETT; 23. Jason Mathieu;

Injured; 13. Steeve CHONG HUE

Coach:   Lionel CHARBONNIER (FRA)

Yellow Cards: 7. Garry ROCHETTE 44′;

Red Cards: None

NCL: 2. Joris GORENDIAWE; 3. Edmond IPUNESSO; 4. Jonathan KAKOU; 5. Jean Claude JEWINE; 6. Cesar LOLOHEA (14. Jean Philippe SAIKO 60′); 7. Maxime CHEVRY; 8. Jean WAHNYAMALLA (18. Jean TYEA 89′); 9. Roy KAYARA; 10. Rony ATTI (19. Yoann BAKO 73′); 12. Alan HNAUTRA; 20. Nicolas IWA (GK);

Substitutes not used: 1. Jean Daniel CAEE (RGK); 11. Warren NAXUE; 13. Vincent VAKIE;  15. Jihovany LOLOHEA; 16. Theodore HNANGANYAN; 17. Yoahn AUSU;

Coach: Didier CHAMBARON (FRA)

Yellow Cards: 12. Alan HNAUTRA 42′; 3. Edmond IPUNESSO 82′;

Red Cards: None

Standings: