Adshead delighted

Press, 15 February 1982, Page 38

Adshead delighted

New Zealand’s effort in holding Hungary a 1-2 win in the soccer international in Christchurch yesterday was as good as any it had made in any of its World Cup qualifiers, according to the squad's manager, John Adshead. Mr Adshead was delighted that his team had kept within such close range to Hungary, who last year qualified for the World Cup ahead of group colleagues England. “It was a marvellous, marvellous performance," he said. . Mr Adshead said that his team had played a more composed game than when it lost by a similar margin to the Europeans in Auckland on Thursday. “Particularly in the first half. We looked more composed on the ball, we looked to go forward better and got more ball to the front two,” he said. The Hungarian soccer manager, Mr Kalman Meszoly, said yesterday that New Zealand’s World Cup squad would be a good example for any professional team. Speaking through an interpreter Mr Meszoly, himself a former World Cup player, said this country’s soccer representatives had “a big willpower.” “They try very hard,” he said. “They run for 90 minutes. And they are a very sporting, friendly team. “They would be a good example for any professional side.” Mr Meszoly said he had been disappointed with his own team’s performance at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday. “We missed too many chances,” he said. “In the first half we took New Zealand too easy and then the heat affected us in the second half, “But we still should have won by more goals.”