All Whites captain Chris Wood in action against Tahiti. Photo / New Zealand Football
All Whites captain Chris Wood in action against Tahiti. Photo / New Zealand Football
New Zealand 3
Tahiti 0
A charismatic New Zealand football coach of yesteryear used to have a common refrain for away matches.
As he reached the end of his team talk, he would say: “Right boys, we go out there, we get the three points and we p**s off home”.
Sometimes in football it is just about the result and his words came to mind on Friday, watching the All Whites begin their Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win over Tahiti.
Elijah Just opened the scoring after 91 seconds with a peach of a goal, before Chris Wood and Ben Waine confirmed the result in the second half.
It means the All Whites top Group B, with matches against Vanuatu and Samoa to come next month, before the final four congregate in Auckland next March.
By their recent standards, much of this match was below par from the All Whites.
They were efficient and structured but lacked the usual precise, snappy passing and movement, while crosses were over hit or off target.
However, there were obvious caveats. The pitch at Port Vila VFF Freshwater Stadium was bumpy and dry – as the ball bobbled along the surface – and most of the European-based players had been on the ground for less than 48 hours, after the long trip from the northern hemisphere.
But the biggest challenge was the Tahitian approach, particularly in the first half.
They adopted a 5-4-1 formation – all sat deep in their defensive third – to stifle the All Whites. It was negative but also pragmatic, denying the New Zealand side any space and time in the attacking third. It worked for long periods, as the All Whites struggled to find a way through or around Toa Aito.
The Tahitians were also physical and in 34 degree heat, it added up to a contest of conservation.
Chris Wood celebrates scoring the All Whites' second goal. Photo / Oceania Football Confederation
But given the gulf in class and experience – the Tahitian squad was completely made up of players based in the Islands – it was a frustrating experience, especially the first hour or so.
The All Whites made a perfect start, with Just’s third goal for his country. It was memorable too, as he burst onto an Alex Rufer pass, skipped inside, then buried a curling shot just inside the far post.
Tahiti didn’t touch the ball inside New Zealand’s half until the 10th minute, while the All Whites did well to contain any counter attacks. Clear chances for New Zealand were scarce, given their possession. Ben Old shaved the upright just before halftime and a Tim Payne cross was deflected onto the crossbar early in the second half.
After he had uncharacteristically skewed a shot well wide, Wood made the game safe in the 67th minute. From a deep Sam Sutton corner, he directed a powerful far-post header back over the keeper for his 35th senior international goal. The All Whites could relax from there and coach Darren Bazeley made several substitutions.
