NZ down PNG to top group

PAPEETE: An earlier kick-off on match day five of the OFC U19 Championship yesterday tested New Zealand’s ability to adapt to hot and humid conditions but they still went on to secure top of group A with a 4-0 win over Papua New Guinea.
In the other match, Tonga surprised the hosts with an organised performance, falling just 2-0 to Tahiti who will join New Zealand in the semifinals as group A runners-up.
New Zealand managed the change in conditions and stadium well all things considered although their opponents were much more at home in the conditions.
After having their bench completely obliterated by suspensions following the match against Tahiti, PNG were left with just two substitutes including reserve keeper Baxter Morris, for their game against the defending champions.
It’s certainly not how coach Harrison Kamake wanted to turn out but the OFC B licence-holder did what he could with the resources he had at his disposal and at least for the first 45 minutes things were looking good for the Melanesians.
Goalkeeper Graham Berigami played out of his skin, making impressive acrobatic saves throughout the first half to leave the opposing front line incredibly frustrated at times.
Sylvester Luke, who had his red card overturned by the OFC Disciplinary Committee, played a crucial role in the backline for his team with some goal saving challenges denying the likes of Max Mata, Oliver Whyte and Willem Ebbinge.
However, the class of the Kiwi side shone through in the second half, with half-time substitute Matthew Conroy having an immediate impact on the match as he made a driving run into the opposing penalty area in the opening minute only to be dragged down.
Captain for the day, Mata stepped up and nailed the ball into the top of the net for the opener, ten minutes later and he was once again firing home from the spot after Luke dragged one of his teammates down in the box.
Conroy then got on the board himself when he scored his side’s first goal from open play for the day in the 67th minute. Berigami looked like he might have tarnished his efforts when he dragged an opponent down in the box, but the gloveman redeemed himself when he saved the effort from Whyte.
However, Mata was waiting to net the follow up, securing a hat-trick in the process.
New Zealand coach Des Buckingham acknowledged the performance from PNG, the first half in particular.
“It was a different game for us,” Buckingham said. “PNG set up very well and made it very difficult for us — full credit to them for that especially in the first half.”
With a place in the semifinal assured, Buckingham said it was another opportunity to make a few changes to the starting line-up and ensure the entire squad had a chance to impress ahead of Wednesday’s encounter.
“We managed to get one of the players who hasn’t played yet, Matt Conroy, on and I thought he had a big impact on the start of the second half and that helped us,” he said.
“The match was a different test kicking off at 12 in very hot, humid conditions.
“To be able to manage the game in the way that they did, score four goals and finish with a clean sheet was very pleasing.”
After what has overall been a relatively forgettable outing for his side, Kamake took some positives from his side’s performance.
“I’m a bit disappointed with the result,” he said.
“But the players really took it to New Zealand, especially in the first half.
“We’d said in camp we had to take the game to them and credit to the boys for the first half and going into the break 0-0.
“In front, we lacked. We had chances but we didn’t finish them and it came back to hurt us.”
New Zealand will now face the runner-up of group B in semifinal one while Tahiti will meet the winner of group B in semifinal two.
– OFC