First half goals to Jared Basger and Laureano Gomez gave Australia a 2-0 half time lead before a toe poke from close range by Fernando de Moraes closed out the match at ASB Stadium as the Futsal Whites were continually thwarted by Futsalroos custodian Peter Spathis.
Futsal Whites coach Scott Gilligan was happy with the performance of his young charges especially their patience in defence.
“We’ve come a long way in a short space of time,” said Gilligan.
“We tweaked our defensive structure and I think it unsettled the Aussies a little bit. We still need some work in attack but I think the second half was a lot better, we created some chances but we just couldn’t score,” added Gilligan.
The Futsal Whites started energetically, unsurprising considering their opposition had only arrived in the country hours before the match after boarding a flight from Sydney at 5am.
Both sides failed to create any clear cut opportunities in the opening exchanges until 17-year-old debutant Elliot Collier hit the Futsalroos upright after tidy lead up work from Marvin Eakins and Dylan Manickum.
Moments before the opening goal Australian captain Tobias Seeto struck New Zealand’s post with a rasping drive. From the ensuing restart starting ‘keeper David Plowright could only parry a deflected Roberto Maiorana shot into the path of the Basger for an easy tap in.
James Vaughan had the Futsal Whites best opportunity in the first half after solid work by Daniel Burns but his sliding effort was blocked in double-teamed defensive effort by Dean Lockheart and Lachlan Wright.
A second goal seemed inevitable after a series of saves from Plowright towards the end of the first spell, and the Futsal Whites resolve was broken seconds before the break, another back post tap-in this time in more cheeky fashion from Gomez.
In the second half New Zealand looked to attack on the break with chances falling to Manickum and Burns. In the Futsalroos goal Spathis was in fine form quick off his line and saving at point blank range from Eakins.
At the other end Clayton Chappell put in a solid second half display and engaged in a personal duel with Aaron Cimitle. Three times the Australian was denied, twice at full stretch in spectacular fashion.
Chappell’s heroics kept the Futsal Whites in the match, but De Moraes made sure of the result slamming a toe poke from close range after Burns was dispossessed by Wright near the touchline with eight minutes remaining.
Happy with the victory Futsalroos coach Steven Knight was looking forward to some well earned rest.
“It’ll be a big sleep day for us tomorrow, and hopefully we can put in another good performance,” said Knight.
The second match of the ASB Trans Tasman Cup kicks off at 7:30pm tomorrow night, with other activities on from 4:30pm.
ASB Trans Tasman Cup
ASB Stadium, Kohimarama, Auckland
Match 1 – September 21
New Zealand 0
Australia 3 (Basger 14′; Gomez 19′; De Moraes 32′)
Halftime: 0-2
New Zealand: 1-Clayton CHAPPELL (gk); 2-James VAUGHAN; 3-Dylan MANICKUM; 4-Jan FISCHER; 5-Miro MAJOR; 7-Marvin EAKINS (c); 8-Daniel BURNS; 9-Jakub SINKORA; 10-Lucas SILVA; 11-Micky MALIVUK; 12-David PLOWRIGHT (gk); 13-Elliot COLLIER; 14-Tai BARHAM; 16-Bakr AL-SAUDI
Coach: Scott GILLIGAN
Australia: 1-Peter SPATHIS (gk); 2-Daniel FULTON; 3-Jarrod BASGER; 4-Dean LOCKHART; 5-Keenan DUIMPIES; 6-Laureano GOMEZ; 7-Tobias SEETO (c); 8-Fernando DE MORAES; 9-Daniel FOGARTY; 10-Lachlan WRIGHT; 11-Nathan NISKI; 12-Roberto MAIORANA; 14-Renagi David INGRAM (gk); 15-Aaron CIMITLE
Coach: Steven KNIGHT
ASB Trans Tasman Cup
New Zealand v Australia
ASB Stadium, Kohimarama, Auckland
Match Two: Saturday 22 September, 7:30pm
Match Three: Sunday 23 September, 12:00pm
Admission:
Adults – $10 per game / $15 for all three
Students and U-20s free entry.
Other activities
Saturday 22 September
4:30pm: U-14s showcase game
5:00pm-5:45pm: ‘Have a go’ open session
5:45pm: U-19s showcase game
Sunday 23 September
9:00am: U-10s showcase game
9:30am-10.15am: ‘Have a go’ open session
10:15am: U-12s showcase game
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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