OWN CORRESPONDENT, Auckland | Friday 1.20pm.
A LATE goal through defender Matthew Booth saw South Africa’s Amaglug-glugs claim a 3-2 victory against the fired-up New Zealand All Whites in their Olympic Qualifier at North Harbour Stadium, setting themselves up for an easy return-leg at Vosloorus Stadium next Saturday.
The half-time score was 2-2.
The Amaglugs started off shakily, with the All Whites taking the game straight to their less powerful opponents. The South Africans battled when the ball was lifted off the deck, but settled down after a rocky start.
The Kiwis went into the lead in the 12th minute through a strike by Melbourne Knights striker Paul Urlovic who took advantage of a spot of near-goal confusion to belt the ball into the back of the net.
The South Africans seemed to settle down after the New Zealand goal and played some good football, passing out from midfield to find their dangerous forwards.
It was Siyabonga Nomvete who equalised for the Amaglugs when he headed home a perfect Dillon Sheppard cross from close range in the 18th minute.
Quinton Fortune then put the visitors in the lead when he latched onto an immaculate cross by Benni McCarthy, drew out the keeper and kept his cool to whip the ball into the back of the net.
The All Whites were then given a bonus, and the draw, when Amaglugs defender Fabien McCarthy played a ball back to ‘keeper Emile Baron who slipped, and could only watch in horror as the ball rolled across the goalline.
The second half was not nearly as gung-ho as the first-half, but the South Africans had a number of opportunities which they squandered.
Amaglugs coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba was sent off early in the second half for continiously voicing his dissent with the match-officials.
Then, in the 42nd minute of the second half, Booth headed home from a corner to reclaim the Amaglugs’ lead. Booth got up high and headed down, leaving Kiwi goalkeeper Chris March in no position to prevent the ball from spinning over the line, and into the goal.
The South Africans looked troubled when were kept under pressure by the bigger and stronger Kiwis, but as soon as they were given a sniff of space, the difference in class shone through.
Chris Killen had a fine game for the All Whites, as did Raffaele De Gregorio and Ryan Nelsen. Nelsen, in particular, was very effective at the back.
Benni McCarthy was impressive at times for the Amaglugs, but the New Zealanders’ use of the offside trap made him, and Fortune vulnerable to offside rulings. Fortune was impressive, and constantly troubled the New Zealand defence.
Definitely not the best seen from the Amaglugs, but a good win nonetheless.