All Whites upset odds in fine win

Press, 3 April 1989, Page 36

All Whites upset odds in fine win

PA Auckland The slumbering giant that New Zealand soccer sometimes is, stirred back to life at Mt Smart Stadium yesterday as the All Whites upset the odds and the Australians with a deserved 2-0 victory.

The win was a classic reminder of the ability of the New Zealand coach, John Adshead, and his players to come back from a humiliating loss to silence their critics.

Yesterday’s commitment was total and in the end the Socceroos looked as ragged as the All Whites did in Sydney two weeks ago. It was a victory that ranked with many of this country’s finest in recent times and showed that Mr Adshead was perhaps right when he blamed so many outside factors for that loss in Australia.

Basing his strategy on what he had gleaned from the Socceroos in earlier matches in the Oceania qualifying series, he gambled and won.

He rang the changes in position and personnel and came away smiling as the game plan followed the script almost perfectly.

The visitors, aware that a good win would almost be enough to win through to the next phase, began strongly, but the All Whites found their feet in minutes and did what they were asked to do. It then became a very ordinary Australian effort. They were outmanoeuvred, out-thought and out-played.

For the first time in his 50-odd games for New Zealand, the former skipper, Malcolm Dunford, was pressed forward to assume the responsibility of the central midfield role.

He responded magnificently and opened the scoring in the nineteenth minute with a well-exe-cuted header from a Noel Barkley free kick.

Dunford battled for 60min of the game with a cut above the eye which needed five stitches at half-time following a clash of heads with Oscar Crino.

Noel Barkley has never run further or harder as he assumed a foreign midfield defensive role. He tracked, and backtracked throughout. At right back Michael Ridenton, in only his second international, fully justified his selection with a polished all-round dis-

play. The centre-backs — Ricki Herbert, now in sight of his 100 games for New Zealand and looking more comfortable than he had at fullback in the Sydney game, and Gary Lund, who picked up dangerman Graham Arnold — did all that was asked of them.

At left back Tommy Mason was as accomplished as ever, while behind the defence goalkeeper, Clint Gosling, was rarely under any pressure and when asked the question by an early second half shot from Arnold he saved well.

The pace Darren McClennan adds to the attack was again evident. He gave the side the bite the Socceroos would have dearly loved.

The three Australianbased players Mr Adshead did not want in Sydney — Billy Wright, Fred de Jong and Robert Ironside — responded to the challenge magnificently yesterday.

Mr Adshead was not saying much but it was clear the trio had been given their chance and taken it. While he would not discuss next Sunday’s lineup for the key game against Israel, Mr Adshead did say he would stay with yesterday’s players.

“We won out there today simply because we stopped a good side playing football,” he said. “If you allow a side like Australia to dominate in central positions you are in trouble. By playing Dunford in the role we did we won that part of the game. But, by hell, if it hadn’t come off I would have been crucified.” The All Whites never gave up their non-stop running, bustling game and then made good use of the scraps they won. The visitors on the other hand rarely looked the accomplished side which has fashioned such a good record at this level. It was that lack of discipline that led to the home side’s first, and vital, goal. De Jong and the defender, Steve Calderan, chased a bouncing ball wide in the Australian

penalty area. As de Jong went to head down, Calderan’s foot went up and the referee, Bin Singah, of Singapore, awarded an indirect freekick for dangerous play. Barkley stepped forward and floated the ball towards the far post. The big men in the All Whites virtually lined up for what became a free header and it was Dunford who succeeded.

Rather than hit back, the Socceroos just went through the motions. The only other chance for the All Whites in the first 45min fell to Ironside but his weak shot was easily covered by the goalkeeper, Jeff Olver.

The Australians came out in the second spell intent on wiping out the one goal deficit.

Within 2min Arnold had a shot blocked by Gosling but Scott Ollerenshaw struck the loose ball and watched in despair as it sailed high over the crossbar.

Then came that magical moment of Wright’s goal which dashed Australian hopes. Ironside won a blockbusting tackle in midfield to send Wright away on the left.

He broke from halfway, carved past two would-be Australian tacklers and unleashed a 20m drive which curled deftly into the top corner of the goal, giving the hapless Olver no chance. Now Mr Adshead and his team must do it all again. On what they showed yesterday a victory over Israel is within their bounds.

• The All Whites’ win has kept alive its faint hopes of qualifying for the World Cup soccer finals. A win by three goals over Israel. at Mount Smart Stadium next Sunday would take the All Whites to the top of the Oceania group with only the Australia-Israel return game in Sydney on April 16 to be played. Should that game end 0-0 New Zealand would take the group on goal difference. At 1-1 New Zealand and Australia would be level and the contest would go to a play-off.