Two goals in eight minutes has seen the New Zealand U-20 men overcome Tahiti in their opening match of the OFC U-19 Championship tonight in Tahiti.

The defending champions, who are looking to book their place in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland next year, showed good composure and character as they defeated Tahiti 2-1 in front of a boisterous crowd at Stade Pater in Pirae.

In the lead-up to the game, New Zealand U-20 Head Coach Des Buckingham stressed that his team could not to take anything for granted throughout the tournament and so it proved in their opening clash with a tough and physical challenge from the Bruno Tehaamoana-coached side.

“We knew that playing the hosts first up they would come out of the traps flying,” said Buckingham after the game. “It was important that we got a foothold in the game. We did that. We went into half-time at 0-0 and it was important that we stayed right mentally going into the second half. As it progressed we grew into the game and it was pleasing to see some of the work we have put in pay off.”

Buckingham said his squad has bonded quickly as a group and that puts them in good stead when they come up against tough opposition like tonight’s opening game.

“We knew that they would be well prepared – the last time they hosted the U-19 Championship they qualified for the World Cup. For us, we had 10 training sessions together and this was our first competitive game together so to get the three points from a 2-1 win over the hosts is a good start.”

Both teams had their chances to open the scoring in the first 45 minutes, but it was experienced forward Max Mata who broke the deadlock shortly after half-time.

New Zealand’s skipper Joe Bell, who led from the front in the middle of the park in his first time captaining his country, went on a searching run and his cross hit the hand of a Tahitian defender. Referee George Time did not hesitate in pointing to the spot and Mata was clinical with his left-footed penalty to the bottom right corner in the 53^rd minute.

Eight minutes later there was more to come from the tournament favourites. Leon Van Den Hoven took the ball to the by-line in a run that asked questions of the Tahitian defence – the attacking midfielder from RKC Waalwijk felt that he had a good shout for a penalty but Time waved it away for a corner kick.

Willem Ebbinge stepped up and delivered a great corner kick to the far post to pick out Mata who laid it off for Charles Spragg to finish from close range. It was a great team goal and one that saw New Zealand jump out to a deserved 2-0 lead.

Spragg, who was a standout for the NZ U-17s at the OFC U-16 Championship two years ago when he finished as the tournament’s leading goal scorer with seven, and picking up the golden ball as the tournament’s most valuable player, continued his good record in the Pacific Islands.

Just as the Kiwis were looking to control the final 30 minutes of the game, Tahiti were back in the contest through a wonderful strike from Eddy Kaspard only three minutes later.

The big forward, who was busy all night for the hosts, received the ball on the edge of the area and hit a great shot past goalkeeper Cameron Brown to get the locals on their feet. 

That goal brought New Zealand back down to earth and they did well to close out the game in testing circumstances. New Zealand should have had a third goal when the ball fell fortuitously for Kingsley Sinclair in the box, but his attempt went flying over the bar.

It was an even first half with both teams having half chances to open the scoring. The locals settled into their work quickly and could have taken the lead in the first 10 minutes. Tahiti captain Roonui Tehau tried to hit the left corner of goal with a glancing header which was only just off target. New Zealand captain Bell was the first name in Time’s book when he tackled a Tahitian midfielder from behind in the 14^th minute.

New Zealand were pressing high and creating some opportunities in the attacking third, while Tahiti sat further back and looked to create scoring chances on the counter attack.

New Zealand had a half chance in the 38^th minute when Mata found space at the back post and his diving header was just off target.

Tahiti responded and had successive corner kicks which were thwarted by Jordan Spain with a good clearance and Brown who tipped over the bar.

New Zealand took control in the second half and will take confidence from the fact that they delivered under pressure against a good Tahitian side. Trevor Zwetsloot (who was booked late in the match),  Dane Schnell and Oliver Whyte all came on as second-half substitutes as New Zealand claimed a valuable three points.

New Zealand play their second game of the OFC U-19 Championship on Thursday against Tonga at the same venue. Tonga lost their opening match to Papua New Guinea 4-0 earlier today. 

OFC U-19 Championship
New Zealand 2 (Max Mata 53’, Charles Spragg 61’) Tahiti 1 (Eddy Kaspard 64’)
HT: 0-0
Stade Pater, Pirae, Tahiti

New Zealand: 1. Cameron Brown (GK), 2. Jordan Spain, 3. Dino Botica, 4. Joe Bell ©, 5. Robert Tipelu, 9. Max Mata, 10. Charles Spragg (8. Trevor Zwetsloot 66’), 11. Willem Ebbinge (19. Oliver Whyte 90’ + 3’), 15. Callan Elliot, 16. Leon Van Den Hoven (9. Dane Schnell 80’), 18. Kingsley Sinclair

Subs not used:  7. Matthew Conroy, 12. Zac Jones, 14. Jorge Akers, 17. Boyd Curry
Head Coach Des Buckingham
Cautions: Joe Bell, Trevor Zwetsloot

Article added: Monday 06 August 2018