N.Z. starts well but slips in the second half

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 48

N.Z. starts well but slips in the second half

From

DAVID LEGGAT,

in Wellington

Having looked set for 45 minutes to give one of its most heartening performances at home the New Zealand soccer team slipped a couple of notches in a listless second half against an unimpressive Russia at Newtown Park last events-

In the end, New Zealand achieved a 1-1 draw which was the least it deserved against an opponent which only spasmodically played up to its pre-tour billing. The combination of a narrow, bumpy pitch and a cold, gusting wind blowing across the ground did not help, but New Zealand looked much the sharper, more incisive unit in the first half.

With Allan Boath, Ceri Evans and Malcolm Dunforth presenting a solid core in front of the recalled Wellington goalkeeper, Barry Pickering, the All Whites comfortably blotted out most of Russia’s offensive work. Brent O’Neill, the DB Wellington player, in his first international appearance at right back, had an excellent, If shortened game, getting forward into spaces and tackling solidly before leaving the field injured early in the second half. With Grant Turner scrapping and scuffing for the ball, Steven Sumner

performing the tidying-up role and Bill McClure displaying the cultured touches, the All White midfield looked composed and confident. Russia’s build-up was slow and laboured in the first half, but quickened after the Interval to better effect. Iskender Dzhavadov and Oleg Morozov were a nippy pair of attackers and the midfielders had their moments. O’Neill almost had a dream start, hitting a firm low drive'from 18 metres which had the Russian goal-keeper, Ivan Zhekiu, stretching. Evans got up well to head just past the post. New Zealand eventually took a well-merited lead in the twenty-second minute.

From McClure’s right wing corner Hagan flicked the ball on for Dunford, steaming in from the far post to head firmly into the net. The goal was almost a carbon copy of Dunford’s effort against Israel in Auckland four months ago.

The equaliser came two minutes into the second half. Ken Cresswell lost possession on the left, the ball was pushed into a gaping hole in the middle of the defence and Evgeny Kuznetsov calmly beat Pickering. The remainder of the second half was largely forgettable. Both teams gave away possession with alarming regularity. The introduction of the balding 30-year-old striker, Viktor Grachev, who looked his team’s best player, was perhaps the only bright spot. Clever on the ball, and willing to take players on, Grachev caused problems. A sharp dipping shot had Pickering on his toes and he generally added a new dimension For the All Whites coach, Kevin Fallon, the performance of his team over all left him satisfied. “But I felt we could have made more of our dominance in the first half.” He summed up the goal New Zealand gave away approriately enough: “Crazy.”