N.Z. held to draw

Press, 23 October 1980, Page 30

N.Z. held to draw

NZPA-Reuter Kuala Lumpur New Zealand was held to a 0-0 draw by an unfancied Indonesian side on the sixth day of the annual Merdeka soccer tournament at Kuala Lumpur yesterday. The young New Zealand side, dropping its first point in three games played so far in the eight-nation competition, was lucky not to lose. It lacked the brilliant form that brought it victories over Kuwait, and South Korea.

The New Zealand players’ ' ) tactic of playing to their big i 1 strikers with high lobs i against the smaller In- i t donesian defence failed to i i pay off, the Indonesian goalkeeper, Purowno, easily cop--1 ing with crosses from both i ; wings, - • ; ' The Indonesians pushed : - the New Zealanders back on [ defence in the second half ; and in the sixty-third minute I , had their best chance when their centre forward, Hadi ■

Ismanto, hit the inside of the post. ■ ' The, ball rolled along the goal-line before being cleared by a defender, John Leigh, for a corner. In the dying minutes, New Zealand nearly got a winner against the run of play. The striker, David Taylor, found himself clear in the penalty area'but, with only the, goalkeeper to beat, he shot widej The match - attendance • was 4000.