No sweat for Junior All Whites in opener

" Costa looked like the Costa of old "

The Thai Airways Junior All Whites took their first positive steps on the Road to Egypt 2009 with a 3-0 win over Fiji at the Oceania U-20 Championship in sweltering Tahiti conditions on Sunday.

Temperatures soared to 37 degrees before the 2pm kick-off but the New Zealanders remained cool to dispatch Fiji with second half goals to Costa Barbarouses, Adam McGeorge and Greg Draper.

New Zealand lead the four-team tournament – which decides Oceania’s representative at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt next year – ahead of New Caledonia and Tahiti who played out a 0-0 draw in a late kick-off.

Despite a goal-less first half in his own match, head coach Stu Jacobs said he was always confident the breakthrough would come.

“The signs were always there in the first half with Barbarouses hitting the post and Draper going one-on-one with the keeper, so there was always a good chance we could open them up in after halftime,” Jacobs said.

The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Wellington Phoenix striker Costa Barbarouses latched on to a ball played over the defence and neatly lobbed the advancing keeper from 20 yards.

Adam McGeorge extended the lead six minutes later when he met Greg Draper’s cross with a classy first time volley, before Draper grabbed one himself three minutes from fulltime with a neat turn inside the penalty area and a top-corner finish.

Jacobs lauded an overall team performance made more pleasing given the limited build-up and extreme conditions.

“Our defensive display was outstanding. Our back four were solid and the defensive work of midfield pair Michael Eager and Adam McGeorge – with all the second phase possession they won for us – was immense considering that on Thursday we didn’t know what system we would be playing.

“All three goal scorers deserved their reward. Costa looked like the Costa of old, Draper always looked likely and Adam McGeorge – along with Tim Myers – was probably the player of the day.”

There’s little time to dwell on the win though as the Junior All Whites face a quick turnaround before meeting hosts Tahiti on Tuesday (NZT).

“We saw Tahiti as the main threat going into this tournament,” Jacobs said.

“They’ve been together a long time as a group and have been playing in their national league this season. They’ll be very good technically and have the crowd on their side, but if we can step up again we have the quality to see off their challenge.”

New Zealand’s match kicks off at 5.30pm on Tuesday (NZT).

OFC U-20 Championship Tahiti 2008

Thai Airways Junior All Whites 3 (Costa Barbarouses 58, Adam McGeorge 64, Greg Draper 87) Fiji 0

Sunday 14 December,
Stade Paea, Papeete, Tahiti

New Zealand NZL: 1-Rhyss KEANE, 2-Tim MYERS, 3-Ian HOGG (Captain), 5-Sam CAMPBELL, 6-Michael EAGER, 7-Costa BARBAROUSES, 8-Adam MCGEORGE (15-Michael PICKERING 83), 9-Greg DRAPER, 12-Cory CHETTLEBURGH (18-Sam BLACKBURN 25), 14-Jonathan RAJ, 17-Jake MATHEWS (10-Milos NIKOLIC 86).
Substitutes not used: 4-Fin MILNE, 11-John NIYONSABA, 13-Ash SOLLY, 16-Alex BARLOW, 19-Nick KEOWN-ROBSON, 20-Jake GLEESON (RGK).
Coach: Stu JACOBS

Fiji:1-Wasim ALI, 2-Peniame DROVA, 3-Amani MAKOE, 4-Josefata NEIBULI (15-Jese ILIMOTAMA 56), 5-ROMUERO, 6-Esava NAQELECA, 11-Monit CHAND, 12-Archie WATKINS (18-Joseva BASUDRA 69), 16-Ranjesh PRASAD, 17-Samuela DRUDRU (10-Nasoni MEREKE 77), 19-Maciu TUILAU.
Substitutes not used: 7-Sumeet KRISHAN, 8-Ratu Vula BONAVEIDOGO, 9-Taione KEREVANUA, 13-James MCKAY14-Velagio DRAUNIMASI, 20-Filimone BOLETAWA,
Coach: Carlos BUZZETTI