N.Z. wins tense soccer match

Press, 22 February 1980, Page 24

N.Z. wins tense soccer match

Special Correspondent, Lautoka The New Zealand soccer team overcame unbelievable odds and a handicap of being reduced to just 10 men for most of the second half to beat Fiji, 2-0, in Lautoka yesterday. In comparison to its play in the first international on Tuesday, this was a typical kick-and-rush exhibition by Fiji, aided by the worst experience of refereeing possible. The New Zealand team was shut out by a referee and a linesman who gave it nothing, and reduced the game to a niggling stop-start affair. Even without Steve Sumner, who was sent off after only 15 minutes of what eventually proved to be a 51-minute second half, the New Zealand team battled away relentlessly. Ross Durant, Frank van Hattum and Lee Stickland, in their debut, had grand games, van Hattum late in the match shrugging off the effects of late charges to pull off a couple of great saves. But the star turn was Alister Elder, who scored a goal in each half to take his tally in his first two matches for New Zealand to three.

Elder, considered by some asi something of a gamble for the tour, again combined well with Mike Groom and, Gary Welch — until he Was replaced by Mark Armstrong} in the second half — to|j create havoc in the Fiji defence. ' Elder's first goal in 'the 30th minute was a classic. He ran on to a long through ball from Glen Dods, ousted the defence, ran around his marker and the goal-keeper and scored neatly. His second, in the eightythird minute, came from al| well-taken header. By the end the New Zealand team,! totally in command, had almost slowed to a walk. Fiji's only scoring chances | were half-hearted long range] dabs which van Hattum ex-; pertly covered or watched sail harmlessly by. After the match, in whicHl Fiji was awarded 33 free] kicks to the 19 for New] Zealand, the New Zealand coach (Mr John Adshead) said: “It was unbelievable.” “The referee allowed us to: play only in the centre of! the field,” said Mr Adshead.l “And the people back home] would have to be here to be-J lieve it. It was a great dis-i play of courage and the sending off of Steve Sumner] is just not, worth talking! about.”