Soccer: Oly-Whites a point from sealing Olympics slot

New Zealand are a point away from a place in the Beijing Olympics after beating nine-man Solomon Islands 2-0 in their Oceania men's qualifier in Fiji yesterday.

Goals from defender Steven Old and midfielder Craig Henderson either side of halftime did the trick for the under-23 Oly-Whites whose job was made easier by the dismissals of star Solomon Islanders Alick Maemae and Benjamin Totori in the 12th and 74th minutes respectively.

New Zealand only require a draw against the Cook Islands in their final match tomorrow to seal Oceania's nomination for the Olympics in Beijing from August 8-24 - something that looks a formality given that the Cooks lost their opening three matches by a combined 24-0.

The Oly-Whites - who will be allowed to add three over-age players to their squad for Beijing - still require New Zealand Olympic Committee ratification to take their place in the 16-strong men's draw.

That could happen as early as next week when a New Zealand Football representative meets the NZOC's three-man Olympic selection panel to sell the Olympic merits of the Oly-Whites and Football Ferns.

Old gave New Zealand a perfect start at Churchill Park in Lautoka when he deposited a header into the back of the net after just five minutes.

The Oly-Whites' advantage grew - numerically at least - when former Manawatu marksman Maemae saw red for a two-footed challenge on Cole Tinkler in the 12th minute.

Two top-draw saves from goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley allowed New Zealand to stay ahead before Henderson produced a wonder strike from 25 metres in the 69th minute to seal the Solomon Islanders' fate.

Coach Stu Jacobs said: "That was a tough day at the office, very tough.

I guess scoring reasonably early on settled us down and once Maemae was sent off they went very, very flat.

"Before I took the job people said why would [you] `you're on a hiding to nothing'. But I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think we had the talent."

- NZPA