Soccer: Oly Whites hit 10 to reach semi-finals

The Olywhites eased into the semi-finals of the OFC Men's Olympic Qualifiying tournament with a 10-0 win over Tonga. Photo / Getty Images.

The New Zealand U-23 football team have eased into the semi finals of the OFC Men's Olympic qualifiers with a resounding 10-0 thumping of Tonga on the final day of pool play.

The win confirms the Oly Whites as Group B winners following Friday's 1-0 win over Papua New Guinea, who also progress to the final four.

New Zealand will meet either Fiji or Vanuatu in Friday's rescheduled semi-final, with those two teams due to clash at 5pm today to determine the top two spots in Group A.

Welsh-based striker Greg Draper was handed captain's armband to deputise for Adam McGeorge who was rested due to being one yellow card short of the suspension limit, and the former All White responded with the opening goal in the 24th minute.

Tongan goalkeeper Soane Faupula pulled off a couple of top class saves to keep the scores close but goals from Jason Hicks and Daniel Saric before half time had New Zealand in cruise control.

The flood gates opened after the break with Louis Fenton adding two in four minutes before his Team Wellington team mate Ethan Galbraith achieved the feat within three minutes later in the half.

Defender James Musa got on the score sheet with nine minutes remaining, sandwiched by Sean Lovemore's second and third goals of the tournament to round the score out to double figures.

New Zealand coach Neil Emblen was disappointed with a first half performance he described as "rusty" but happy with the way a number of fringe players responded in the second spell.

"You'd take that score line if it was offered before the game," said Emblen.

"The passing wasn't as crisp as we would have liked and we're yet to hit top gear.

"We want to go through the tournament not conceding a goal - if we can do that we'll get to London - and we're still on track in that area.

"We pulled a couple of players early and that shows how important they are to our campaign, but we said to the boys at halftime that the game was won and they now had the chance to choose the team for Friday.

"It was a chance to put to get themselves in my mind when I'm picking the line up for the semi finals and it's pleasing to see players sticking their hands up."

- HERALD ONLINE