OLY-WHITES OLYMPIC DREAM ENDS WITH BELGIUM DEFEAT

AUCKLAND – For the second time in a week, a headed goal and a controversial red card have undone the Oly-Whites, who were eliminated from the Olympics after a 0-1 loss to Belgium in Shanghai on Wednesday night.

While Faris Haroun was the goal-scoring hero for Belgium from a 35th minute corner, it was Chilean referee Pablo Pozo who sealed New Zealand’s fate with a red card to Daniel Ellensohn moments after halftime.

Ellensohn’s tackle on Sebastien Pocognoli was certainly late but a straight red from Pozo seemed a severe contrast to the clemency that characterised a first half without a single caution to either side. 

Having played the majority of a 1-1 draw with China with ten men, New Zealand coach Stu Jacobs could be forgiven to getting used to being on the receiving end of game-turning decisions.

“I saw some of the FIFA officials after the game who said it was a bit harsh,” Jacobs said, “but if you look across the tournament a lot of the decisions have been mighty harsh so I guess there’s some consistency there.”

“That doesn’t make it any easier to play with ten men, though.

“You can’t fault the effort of the players when they’re a man down, they were absolutely fantastic again.

“The referee was perhaps a wee bit inconsistent in the way he let some things go and pulled up others for us.

“But that’s just part of the game and just you have to get on with it, and I think we did that.”

Down to ten men, New Zealand – who needed to beat Belgium to qualify for the quarter-finals on Olympic debut – faced one-way traffic in the second half enduring a particularly torrid time heading into the final twenty minutes with Jacob Spoonley pulling off a number of full stretch saves while the woodwork also played a part on three occasions.

Showing all the fighting qualities they displayed against China, the Oly-Whites battled to the end and came away with a score-line closer than some would have predicted against a side that finished in the top four of European qualifying.

Chris Killen’s low snap shot would have brought the scores level in the 74th minute but for the right boot of Logan Bailley in the Belgian goal, while Craig Henderson and Michael Boxall may have done better with second half headers.

Belgium – who booked a Beijing quarter-final against Italy with the victory – began the game with a number of long range efforts but apart from a double chance in the 23rd minute when Jacob’s Spoonley’s post and then his sharp reflexes denied the Europeans the young stopper wasn’t overly troubled in the first half hour.

But just as the Oly-Whites were settling into their work, Haroun popped up with the game’s only goal rising highest to meet a corner that Spoonley had called fall but failed to collect.

New Zealand finished 14th in the 16-team field behind Australia, Serbia and China on goal difference with Jacobs giving his side a mark of 7/10 in their first Olympic campaign.

“We fell short of the goal we had set internally, which was to make the quarter-finals, but we didn’t fall short by much.

Jacobs also thought a number of his players might have earned themselves a chance of a professional contract singling out Cole Peverley and Ian Hogg for strong tournaments and Steven Old for an impressive showing on the night

“You’d hope [they’d get a opportunity]. That’s one of the benefits of coming to these events.

“But for the players to get opportunities they have to perform on the world stage. The chance could be for the Phoenix or an overseas club, you don’t know who might be sitting in the stands watching.”

Jacobs reserved some praise for his older contingent, lauding the impact his three over-age players Ryan Nelsen, Simon Elliott and Chris Killen had on younger players.

“Ryan was exceptional. It was fantastic to have him in the group. His performance against China showed why he’s playing in the English Premiership and he’s been an gentleman among the kids.

“Simon and Killy have been absolutely fantastic. They’ve made really big contributions to the group – It’s been an absolute privilege to have them on board.”

Men’s Olympic Football Tournament: Group C

Shanghai Olympic Stadium

Wednesday 13 August

New Zealand 0 Belgium 1 (Faris Haroun 35)

New Zealand: 1-Jacob SPOONLEY (GK), 2-Aaron SCOTT (Captain / 14-Cole TINKLER 80), 6-Michael BOXALL, 12-Steven OLD, 3-Ian HOGG, 16-Sam JENKINS (17-Sam MESSAM 59), 4-Cole PEVERLEY, 7-Simon ELLIOTT, 8-Craig HENDERSON (15-Greg DRAPER 84), 9-Daniel ELLENSOHN, 10-Chris KILLEN.

Substitutes not used: 11-Jeremy BROCKIE (suspended), 13-Shaun VAN ROOYEN, 18-Liam LITTLE (GK)

Cautions: 8-Craig HENDERSON

Red Cards: 9-Daniel ELLENSOHN

Belgium: 1-Logan BAILLY (GK), 2-Sepp DE ROOVER, 4-Thomas VERMAELEN, 5-Sebastien POCOGNOLI, 7-Tom DE MUL (14-Landry MULEMO 84), 8-Faris HAROUN, 9-Kevin MIRALLAS, 10-Jan VERTONGHEN, 11-Maarten MARTENS (16-Anthony VANDEN BORRE 68), 15-Jeroen SIMAEYS, 18-Moussa DEMBELE.

Substitutes not used: 6-Marouane FELLAINI, 12-Yves MA-KALAMBAY (GK), 13-Laurent CIMAN, 17-Stijn DE SMET, 19-Vadis ODJIDJA-OFOE

Cautions: 4-Thomas VERMAELEN, 15-Jeroen SIMAEYS

Group C Final Standings

Story provided by NZF Media. For more visit www.nzsoccer.com

Photos courtesy of FIFA Media. For more visit www.FIFA.com