OFC U-17 CHAMPIONSHIP – WORLD CUP AWAITS NEW ZEALAND AFTER WIN

The New Zealand Men’s U-17 Football team has qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria with a 2-0 win over Tahiti at the Oceania Football Confederation qualification tournament on Friday.

New Zealand maintained their unbeaten record and tournament clean-sheet despite playing the second half against Tahiti without midfielder Jack Hobson-McVeigh who was sent off after receiving his second yellow card.

The Young All Whites showed no signs of panic after McVeigh was controversially marched in first half injury time, continuing to dominate possession and giving Tahiti no clear goal scoring opportunities.  

New Zealand coach Stephen Cain paid tribute to the courage and composure of his World Cup bound team:

"These boys deserve everything they’re going to get. Not only have they not conceded a goal in the entire tournament but they played over 45 minutes today with only ten men and looked very, very comfortable.

I thought a team of 16 year olds could have very easily crumbled but they showed maturity beyond their years."

New Zealand captain Gordon Murie said that his team took a great deal of pride in meeting the pre-tournament defensive challenge their coach set them:  

"Our coach Steve Cain set us the goal of not conceding (a goal) during the tournament and we did it, we were solid as… and other teams didn’t really look like scoring. We all felt super confident this morning before the game, we couldn’t wait to leave the hotel."

A clearly emotional Murie was aware of the significance of the experience that awaits them in Nigeria this October-November:

"You just think about all the players that play football around the world and so few of them get to go to a World Cup and for us to be going is just incredible, I am just over the moon."

The hosts had their first scoring opportunity after 13 minutes when striker Andrew Milne found space down the left sideline and broke at speed into the Tahitian penalty area. He then fired a left-foot shot directly at keeper Teave Teamotuaitau which was deflected into the path of midfielder Andrew Bevin whose follow-up shot was easily saved.

On 22 minutes Milne excited the crowd with an excellent piece of individual skill; chesting down a long ball, turning sharply and unleashing a powerful 25 yard volley that forced an athletic save from Teamotuaitau.

Six minutes later Jack Hobson-McVeigh showcased his set-piece skill with a sweetly struck flat corner kick that defied the gusty winds to pick out charging midfielder Zane Sole who in turn powered his uncontested header into the Tahitian net.

And the crowd of 300 that battled the cold and windy conditions were again rewarded for their support just three minutes later when Bevin made up for his earlier miss by beating his marker down the right sideline and whipping in a swerving low cross that evaded two Tahiti central defenders.

Milne pounced on their concentration lapse to guide a low first-time shot past the keeper and give New Zealand a 2-0 cushion.

On 39 minutes Mc-Veigh was bizarrely yellow carded for time wasting as he waited for a second ball to be cleared from the pitch.

He was then shown a second yellow in the 46th minute after a fifty-fifty challenge with Tahiti midfielder Kaurani Voirin. Voirin was also booked after the clash – his first. 

New Zealand began the second half brightly and Milne shot high and wide across the goal on 55 minutes after another incisive break down the flank. Almost immediately after, Sole missed a golden chance to add a third goal as he failed to connect with the ball from five yards out.

New Zealand and Tahiti counter-punched as Sole again came close to adding another with a drive from just outside the box only inches wide.

In a suitable reflection of New Zealand’s outstanding defensive performance Tahiti’s best goal scoring chances both came from free kicks in the 67th and 70th minutes. New Zealand keeper Coey Turepa juggled the second attempt onto his cross-bar before the wind took it out of play.

But with vocal home crowd support growing, it was New Zealand that powered home stronger in the final 20 minutes. Milne was narrowly denied a second goal on two occasions as Teamotuaitau made a brace of excellent saves at full stretch and at close range.

For New Zealand, Milne was tireless, aggressive and swift all match long. Midfielder Zane Sole also contributed a huge work rate and together with Cameron Lindsay kept the Kiwis moving forward and the Tahitian defence working overtime.

The entire New Zealand back four were efficient, organised and committed through-out. Meanwhile for Tahiti Voirin was a fierce competitor amongst a midfield that lacked cohesion.

In the day’s other game, New Caledonia finished their tournament with a 1-0 win over a tired looking Vanuatu.

Their third place finish was sealed in just the third minute when midfielder Jules Paturel capitalised on advantage play from referee Norbert Hauata, collecting loose possession in the penalty area to drive home from five yards after impressive teammate Leopold Mandi was brought down. 

In a game that failed to reach the standards both teams had set in previous round-robin matches New Caledonia dominated possession through-out and generated far more scoring opportunities than Vanuatu.   

OFC U-17 Championship New Zealand 2009 – MATCH DAY THREE

Match: Vanuatu vs New Caledonia

Date: Friday 24 April

Venue: Auckland, New Zealand

Stadium: North Harbour Stadium

Kickoff: 12h30 (local time)

Vanuatu: 0

New Caledonia: 1 (8. Jules PATUREL 3′)

Halftime: 1-0

VAN: 1. Simon TOUSI, 2. Apollinaire BELBONG; 3. Brian KALTAK, 4. Clovis KAPERE, 5. Jason TEVI; 8. Benderson LUGAO (7. Pascal CHABOD 46′), 9. Brian SUMAKI (15. Jean KALTAK 59′); 12. Moken MALTUNGTUNG; 13. Jack NIKO; 16. Lucien HINGE; 18. Jackson TASSO (11. Willie–Ola JIMMY 80′);

Substititues not used:  14. Johnney TIRAENG, 17. James JOSEPH; 10. Semo JOSEPH, 19. Eddison STEPHEN; 6. Fabien Namuly OBED; 20. Flavien KARIE

Coach: Ettienne Mermer

Yellow cards:  3. Brian KALTAK 16′; 4. Clovis KAPERE 74′

Red cards: 16. Lucien HINGE 89′

NCL: 20. Kim BELLINGER (GK) 2. Stall WENESSIA, 3. Patrick QAEZE; 5. Medhi MAPOU, 6. Ludwig ZEOULA, 8. Jules PATUREL; 10. Damien WANAPOPO; 11. Pascal KENON (19. Moana VIDAL 77′); 12. Philibert UKAJO; 14. Léopold MANDI (7. Bryan THONON 90′); 18. Alexis OUABINE (15. Laurent POUAHILI 59′)  

Substitues not used: 9. Narcisse XOWIE, 16. Enzo QENEGEI, 17. Stéphane WAHAGA;  1. William DEVIC,13. Makaluë XOWI, ; 4. Louis WANAKAEN

Coach: Nicolas Bach 

Yellow cards: 10. Damien WANAPOPO 18′; 8. Jules PATUREL.

Referee: Norbert HAUTUA (TAH)

Assistant Referee 1: Brent Best (NZL)

Assistant Referee 2: Jan-Hendrik HINTZ (NZL)

Fourth Official: Job Ponis MINAN (PNG)

OFC U-17 Championship New Zealand 2009 – MATCH DAY THREE

Match: Tahiti v New Zealand

Date: Friday 24 April

Venue: Auckland, New Zealand

Stadium: No
rth Harbour Stadium

Kickoff: 15H00 (local time)

Tahiti (0) 0

New Zealand: (2) 2 (10. Zane SOLE 28′, 15. Andrew MILNE 31′)

Halftime: 0-2

TAH: 1. Teave TEAMOTUAITAU (GK); 2. Raimana DAHLLUIN; 3. Christian VAHIRUA; 4. Enz FLACCADORI (Kara FAURA 46′) 5. Kaurani VOIRIN (c); 6. Heitini TUPEA; 8. Franck MAUHARA (Mauarii TEHINA 80′); 9. Rainui TZE YU; 10. Hiva KAMOISE (15. Henere VERNAUDON); 11. Heirarii TAVANAE; 13. Teaonui TEHAU;

Substitutes not used: 7. Rangitea BENETT; 12. Matatia PAAMA; 14. Keanu DUCHEK; 17. Viritua TIAIHO; 18. Manu Iti MAIRO; 23. Junior TERIITETOOFA (RGK)

Coach: Lionel CHARBONNIER (FRA)

Yellow Cards: 5. Kaurani VOIRIN 45′

NZL: 1. Corey TUREPA (GK); 3. Adam THOMAS; 5. Gordon MURIE (c); 7. Josh MORRISON; 10. Zane SOLE; 11. Jack HOBSON-McVEIGH; 14. Thomas SPRAGG; 15. Andrew MILNE; 17. Cameron LINDSAY; 18. Ashton PETT; 19. Andrew BEVIN (16. Jamie DORIS 79′)

Substitutes not used: 2. Fergus NEIL; 4. Ross HAVILAND; 6. Tim PILKINGTON; 8. Steven KIBBY; 9. Zac MARGISON; 12. Dylan WINDUST; 13. Michael BUILT; 20. Alex CARR (RGK)

Coach: Steve CAIN (NZL)

Yellow Cards: 11. Jack HOBSON-MCVEIGH 37′; 10. Zane SOLE 69′;

Red Cards: 11. Jack Hobson-Mcveigh

Referee: Rakesh VARMAN (FIJ)

Assistant Referee 1: Andrew ACHARI (FIJ)

Assistant Referee 2: Matthew TARO (SOL)

Fourth Official: Lencie FRED (VAN)

Final Standings:

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