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Australia struggle to take chances in 1-0 win over Kiwi's
It took 86 minutes until they nudged ahead but eventually Australia picked up a 1-0 victory in a Trans-Tasman friendly match played at Craven Cottage in London.
In a match Australia was using to prepare for next weeks Confederation Cup, it was expected that Australia would easily defeat a depleated New Zealand outfit. And Australia should have dominated with the amount of possession they had in the match.
A free kick by Josip Skoko provided the closest strike in the first half as his shot beat New Zealand keeper Mark Paston but grazed the top of the crossbar as it went over. Tim Cahill latched onto a header a metre from goal but a deflection off a Kiwi body ensured the ball went across goal. Brett Emerton missed two chacnces, the first an open goal as he volleyed a rapidly dropping ball from outside the area. The second a diving header which he failed to connect with after Skoko crossed in a perfect ball.
Scott Chipperfield, a deserved man of the match, provided right back Steven Old a 90 minute headache as he continued to get around the 19 year old and put crosses in. Earlier in the first half Old received the only yellow card for the match for a lunging challenge on Chipperfield.
New Zealand had their chances on the counter however but their finishing was as strong as Australia's with David Mulligan and Brent Fisher spraying wide shots that should have given the All Whites the lead.
The second half began in a similar fashion but the first real chance came to New Zealand when substitute keeper Zejlko Kalac (on at half time for Mark Schwarzer, presumably to rest him for the upsoming tornament) was forced into a fantastic save. Paston was had also started to become a little more weary in his role for new Zealand as Jon McKain drove a long shot straight at him before preventing Simon Colosimo from tapping home the rebound. Chipperfield also put a shot in that paston had to take care of.
The introduction of Archie Thompson (for Mile Sterjovski '64) saw the Melbourne Victory signing breathe a little extra life into the attacking front as he raced around like an annoying terrier at the ball. In the end it was Thompson and fellow substitute Ahmed Elrich (74th minute for Brett Emerton) that helped create the space for Colosimo to score. Chipperfield took a pass and fooled Old by cutting his run back as Thompson and Elrich ran into the penalty area, drawing 3 defenders with them, allowing Colosimo to receive a ball from Chipperfield and drive the ball across the ground to the far post, beating Paston in the 86th minute.
The Aussies went on the attack once more, looking to secure the result but the lack of attack from New Zealand at the other end meant it didn't matter. Australia victorious for the 38th time against New Zealand with a 1-0 victory. It's the third straight 1-0 result between the nations after New Zealand defeated Australia 1-0 to qualify for the 2003 Confederations Cup and Australia beat New Zealand 1-0 in the OFC World Cup qualifiers last year.
AUSTRALIA 1 (Simon Colosimo 86') defeated NEW ZEALAND 0
10 June, 2005 |
