Adshead not unhappy about draw

Press, 9 May 1981, Page 64

Adshead not unhappy about draw

NZPA correspondent Taipei The New Zealand soccer coach. John Adshead, was not too pessimistic yesterday after his team’s 0-0 draw with Taiwan in a World Cup qualifying game of Taipei. He conceded that the dropping of an away point had been “disappointing,” but was quick to praise the Taiwanese and predict that other teams in the Oceania qualifying zone would find them a difficult proposition. “They will have gained confidence from last evenings performance, and can expect even better crowd support in future games,” he said.

The 10,000-strong crowd at the match found plenty to get excited about as the New Zealanders found themselves frustrated in what was widely tipped to be one of their easier away games. Their problems stemmed first from the surface of the hard, grassless Taipei Municipal Stadium, which had earlier been described by Mr Adshead as “absolutely diabolical.” The uneven bounce off the pitch made it difficult to play quality football, and also produced hesitation amongst the New Zealanders, especially in front of goal. But equally significant was

a dramatic improvement in the Taiwanese side from that which had been beaten twice, 6-0, in Auckland in the last World Cup qualifying competition. The Taiwanese showed the benefits of two months in training based around building stamina and physical strength, as they relentlessly competed for every ball. Their speed to ’the loose ball and tight man-to-man marking had the alarm bells ringing in the New Zealand camp well before the end of the game. Nevertheless, the New Zealanders controlled the game from the first whistle, and created enough chances

to win comfortably. They were unlucky in hitting the crossbar in the fiftyfifth minute, and less than a minute later seeing the goalkeeper scramble the ball on to the post and away. And Ricki Herbert had the ball in the back of the net after 77 minutes, only for-it. to be disallowed because Steve Sumner was offside. Mr Adshead criticised that decision bv the Japanese referee. Mr Toshio Asami, saying that although the New Zealand captain was offside, he was clearly not interfering with play. But even if, as Mr Adshead claimed, the Taiwanese had “all the luck in the world.’’

the new-look New Zealand attack was not a success. The late withdrawal of the midfielder. Keith Mackay, through injury persuaded Mr Adshead to play a 4-3-3 formation: with the tall Manurewa defender, Sam Malcolmson, as the target man for' Steve. Wooddin, and Brian Turner to run off. However, the nimble Taiwanese defence was almost monotonously able tospirit the ball away from Malcomson before he made his presence felt. New Zealand's best moments came from Wooddin down the left flank. He showed the mood he was in from the first minute when

the goalkeeper, Lin Chin Wang, whose numerous fumbles were not seized upon by the New Zealanders, was forced to tip a strong shot over the bar. Mr Adshead was full of praise after the game for the attitude and courage of the New Zealanders, and felt that their performance had surpassed that of their 4-0 win against Fiji. However, there was no doubt that the services of Mackay and his fellow midfielder, Grant Turner, were sorely missed.