Soccer: Young All Whites keep control over Vanuatu

Cameron Lindsay (left) and Zane Sole bring an aerial ball under control during their team's OFC U-17 championship match. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Early and late goals helped New Zealand claim a 3-0 win over Vanuatu on the opening day of the Oceania under-17 World Cup qualifying tournament at North Harbour Stadium yesterday.

In conditions which made life uncomfortable for the visiting teams, Tahiti struck first with a sizzling 5-2 win over New Caledonia in the tournament opener.

That win, on the back of a goal in the first and last minutes, backed predictions that Friday's finale between New Zealand and Tahiti could decide which country would represent Oceania at September's World Cup in Nigeria.

Both matches were played in wet, slippery conditions on a grass pitch at the stadium's outer oval. Tomorrow's second round games - Vanuatu against Tahiti (12.30pm) and New Zealand against New Caledonia (3pm) - will be on the artificial turf.

The Young All Whites needed just nine minutes to get their campaign under way when the ball was dragged back from the goal-line for Jamie Doris to score.

A second goal five minutes later, when Andrew Milne added the finishing touch to a long-range goal-kick from Nelson-based goalkeeper Coey Turipa, had the Young All Whites in control.

But the visitors never gave up and half chances for Jack Niko and Moken Maltungtung - who forced Turipa to get up and tip over his goal for a corner - gave Vanuatu some hope.

But New Zealand, well-served in midfield by calm-headed Cameron Lindsay and Zane Sole, were able to keep control and eventually add a third when captain and centre-back Gordon Murie headed home a 92nd-minute Thomas Spragg corner.

New Zealand coach Steve Cain took heart from his team's effort but at the same time acknowledged the brave showing by a Vanuatu side who found conditions a far cry from their homeland.

"We need to give Vanuatu credit. They were a lot better than I expected," Cain said. "They were well-organised and made life very difficult for us. We took a while to settle down and looked very nervous in the first 10 minutes. I thought we did enough.

"We're pleased with the win but most of all we're pleased with not conceding. We've set a goal to not concede any goals this week. We know we can score goals. We were honest, we matched their effort and that probably won us the game."

Hiva Kamoise needed just 43 seconds to score the opening goal of the tournament and set Tahiti on the road to victory in the earlier game. Louis Manakaen equalised for New Caledonia 10 minutes later.

There was no further scoring until Kaurani Voirin netted a 42nd-minute penalty for Tahiti four minutes from halftime.

Two minutes after the break it was 2-2 as New Caledonia's Patrick Quaze scored.

The rest of the scoring came from the Tahitians as they added three in the last 32 minutes including a second for Voirin, who also played in freekicks which Heitini Tupea and Heirarii Tavanae converted into goals.