Soccer: Socceroos punish All Whites errors

Kosta Barbarouses of the All Whites competes with Neil Kilkenny of the Socceroos. Photo / Getty Images

Australia 3
New Zealand 0

The All Whites' road trip ended predictably in the loser's circle in Adelaide tonight as the Socceroos exploited a travel-weary opponent to complete a 3-0 victory in their friendly football international.

Fears a leg-weary and understrength New Zealand side could concede a virtual cricket score at the Adelaide Oval were unfounded but the All Whites were still no match for a rebuilding Australian side that were ruthless enough to punish two glaring defensive errors before James Troisi inflated the margin in added time when he beat substitute goalkeeper Jake Gleeson from the spot.

Positioned 40 places beneath Australia on Fifa's current world rankings, the All Whites were never expected to achieve a first win against their neighbours since 2004 and were unable to replicate their brave performance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in April last year where the Socceroos' World Cup send-off was in peril until Brett Holman swept home a 94th-minute winner.

The All Whites only arrived at the match venue yesterday after a 27-hour trek from the United States, where they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Mexico in Denver last Thursday.

Australia also started ominously with midfielder Troisi and veteran Brett Emerton both going close before makeshift left back Jeremy Brockie and goalkeeper Glen Moss combined to gift the opener to Josh Kennedy in the 10th minute.

Brockie opted for a lobbed back pass instead of pushing forward and Moss failed to hoof it clear at the first opportunity - his touch under pressure from the Australian striker enabled Kennedy to sweep the ball into an empty net for his eighth international goal.

Undeterred by that defensive clanger, the All White were resolute for the remainder of the half as the Socceroos struggled for fluidity on a surface greased up by light rain which later turned torrential.

New Zealand had their first scoring opportunity in the 20th minute when a Brockie cross was intercepted by goalkeeper Nathan Coe before Chris Wood could make contact.

Brockie, New Zealand's best player, also supplied another teasing lob inside the penalty box for Shane Smeltz but Coe leapt to punch the ball clear.

Troisi then fluffed a prime opportunity to plant Australia's second in the 38th minute after accurate inter passing left him unmarked at the edge of the box. However, with time on his side he could only direct the ball within Moss's range.

New Zealand's defence was weakened by the unavailability of Ryan Nelsen, Tommy Smith, Winston Reid and Ivan Vicelich but the inexperienced back four - a formation used by Herbert for the first time since the 2009 Confederations Cup -- acquitted themselves well until Kennedy thudded home the clincher in the 59th minute.

Kennedy rose unmarked to propel a free header past Moss via Dario Vidosic's pinpoint delivery, a lapse that left stand-in skipper Tim Brown fuming.

Chris Killen and Ben Sigmund were caught unawares as Kennedy made his run while Chris Wood was also culpable and was subbed from Aaron Clapham soon after.

Although the All Whites contributed to their own demise Michael Boxall, who had been exposed while playing out of position at right wing back against Mexico looked more assured in the centre of defence.

Michael Fitzgerald bounced back from a debut to forget against the Mexicans to put in a decent shift in his usual right back role when he replaced an injured Andy Boyens at halftime.

However, Herbert's ploy of starting strikers Smeltz, Wood and Chris Killen could not unlock an Australian defence missing skipper Lucas Neill - the trio were well contained as Brockie and Michael McGlinchey looked most threatening on the ball.

McGlinchey did some good work on the right side of midfield until he made way for the diminutive Marco Rojas near the hour mark.

Moss atoned for his role in the Socceroos opener when he bravely dispossessed substitute Robbie Kruse as he bore down on goal though he was still dragged with 13 minutes remaining so US-based Jake Gleeson could make his international debut.

Gleeson was sound until Ben Sigmund's challenge on Kruse enabled Turkish-based Troisi to celebrate before his home crowd with a sweetly taken penalty.

Australia 3 (Josh Kennedy 2, James Troisi)
New Zealand 0. Halftime: 1-0

- NZPA