The tie is another pleasing outcome for coach Christophe Coursimault ahead of the Pacific Games, which kick off in Nouméa on Saturday, and comes on the back of a scoreless stalemate between the sides on Wednesday.
On that occasion, New Caledonia left the bulk of the attacking to their more illustrious rivals and carved out only a handful of chances to score. But the second match at the local Merrimac Football Club stadium was a much different affair as the Cagous took the game to their hosts.
The New Caledonia midfield grabbed the initiative from the early stages and, to the delight of Coursimault, went on to dictate much of the play.
Yet, despite the Cagous putting on a far more assured performance, it was the Australians who took the lead and even received a helping hand in doing so by their visitors. In just the third minute, Gold Coast’s James Brown swung over a corner that eluded everyone before bouncing off a surprised Patrick Qaézé and into the New Caledonia net for an own goal.
Coursimault’s men responded well to the setback and pressed forward but could not finish off any of the chances they created. Georges Gope-Fenepej came close to equalising on more than one occasion, first after getting on the end of a Dominique Wacalie cross in the fourth minute and then when he tried to create room for a shot in the box in the 23rd minute but could not get his shot away before being closed down.
Striker César Lolohea, who has recently signed with French Ligue Two side Stade Lavallois, also had several chances to score in an open first half but could not take full advantage, while Wacalie failed to convert an Iamel Kabeu cross and Emile Bearune missed the Cagous’ final chance of the opening period in the 43rd minute.
Luckily for New Caledonia, goalkeeper Jean-Yan Dounezeck was in fine form at the other end and was equal to everything the Gold Coast attack threw at him.
Gope-Fenepej and Lolohea had further chances to score in the second half but it wasn’t until just after the hour mark that the Cagous finally had the reward their attacking enterprise deserved.
There appeared to be little danger when midfielder Marius Bako stepped up to take a free kick well out from goal but his powerful delivery took a deflection off a Gold Coast defender and found its way past goalkeeper Glenn Moss in the 63rd minute.
Substitute Michel Hmae had two late chances to win the match but was denied each time, firstly by New Zealand international Moss and then by the crossbar.
The results of the two friendly matches means there is no winner of the inaugural Queensland Nickel Cup and the trophy will remain in Australia until the sides meet again.
The attention of Coursimault and his team now turns to defending their title at the Pacific Games, the first step of which is a clash against Vanuatu on Saturday at Riviere Salée in Nouméa.
For more on New Caledonia football go to www.fedcalfoot.com

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