Tahiti beats N.Z.

Press, 27 February 1980, Page 6

Tahiti beats N.Z.

Special correspondent

Th e failure to take command from the start, cost the New Zealand soccer team dearly in its Oceania Cup match against Tahiti at the Magenta Stadium at Noumea yesterday. Tahiti won the match, 3-1. New Zealand had its share of early exchanges and then the real break when Steve Sumner slammed home the penalty just two minutes after the interval, but that, sadly, was about the end of the Kiwis. ' Tahiti gradually took over and

its first goal 14 minutes after New Zealand’s opener, was the spur it needed to go all out and New Zealand’s weaknesses were quickly and, unfortunately,‘exposed.

Almost to a man, the New Zealand players were two yards too slow and given that room in which to work, the Tahitians created havoc.

There was no shortage of talent in the Tahitian side, particularly In its attack,: led by Errol Bennett and the Wabeala brothers, who between them created and scored all three ci Tahiti’s goals. .