1996 Tri-Series and PNG

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M-Wey Services Tournament Reports ...

23/03/96, 0-0 v. South Korea

New Zealand and South Korea fought out a scoreless draw in the first round of the Ken Maunder Park tournament.

The SWANZ, with their more robust approach, enjoyed the better of the first half, with captain Maureen Jacobson working tirelessly for the home team's cause.

Danielle Taylor appeared to be taken out by Korean goalkeeper Kim Mi Jung in the 39th minute, as the SWANZ debutant created a chance from nothing to go closest to scoring in the first spell.

The visitors had only themselves to blame for not scoring in the 56th minute. Rebecca Rolls, who, by her standards, had a poor game, cleared the ball to Korean attacker Yong Jung Hee. But instead of shooting at the unprotected goal, she chose to beat a couple of defenders, and a glorious chance went begging.

Amanda Crawford, another who toiled with little reward for the SWANZ, had an effort cleared off the line in the 69th minute, but the Koreans looked likelier to break the deadlock as the game entered its final stages, with Rolls denying both Son Siong Mi and Choi Yun Hee as they bore down on goal.

24/03/96, 0-3 v. Australia

Two goals in as many minutes early in the first half inspired Australia to a 3-0 triumph over their trans-tasman rivals at Ken Maunder Park.

But the Matildas' victory was marred by an injury to their imposing central midfield talent, Cheryl Salisbury, who was carried off the park ten minutes from time with strained ankle ligaments.

Nonetheless, the SWANZ could find no response to goals in the ninth minute, a 25-yard drive from Salisbury, and, a minute later, to Katrina Boyd, who pounced on a fumble by Rebecca Rolls and duly picked her spot.

Joanne Peters piled on the agony for the large home crowd in the 22nd minute, exquisitely chipping Rolls on the angle for a memorable third goal.

Rolls redeemed herself somewhat with some fine saves later on, but the Australians were technically and physically superior to Maurice Tillotson's side, for whom Maureen Jacobson and Amanda Crawford once again stood out.

Crawford was denied the goal her efforts merited when her 65th minute strike was dismissed by a linesman's flag, but aside from that, Australian goalkeeper Tracey Wheeler had little to worry about.

28/03/96, 1-0 v. South Korea

New Zealand's first win since a 6-0 drubbing of Papua New Guinea in 1994 was the outcome of game four of the tri-series, Danielle Taylor's 69th minute strike enough to see off South Korea, who had lost by the same scoreline to Australia three days previously.

After a fine double-save from Jung Ho Jung denied New Zealand's most consistent performers throughout the tournament, Maureen Jacobson and Amanda Crawford, the game degenerated into what amounted to little more than kick-and-chase - the pace at which the match was played was such that there was little quality football seen in the first spell.

Yvonne Vale, in goal for the SWANZ, was kepy busy by the visitors early in the second half, and was left to pick the ball out of the net in the 66th minute, following a cross-shot into the far corner of the net by Kim Yong Sun. But referee Derek Rugg ruled that Vale had been fouled by top Korean striker Choi Yun Hee as she attempted to catch the ball, and scoreless the game remained.

For three minutes only. Melissa Wileman sparked the move which led to the SWANZ only goal of the week, intercepting a Korean pass in midfield. She fed Crawford, who played the ball on for Joy Howland. The Waikato striker chipped the ball over the defence for Taylor, who had evaded the offside trap and was in full flight. After controlling the ball, she fair buried the sphere past Jung to open the scoring.

It could have been 2-0, Crawford heading against the post fifteen minutes from time, but Maurice Tillotson's side retained their one-goal advantage to the end.

30/03/96, 0-2 v. Australia

Australia, smarting from a 2-1 loss to South Korea twenty-four hours previously, continued their dominance over New Zealand in women's soccer, downing their spirited opponents 2-0 in the final match of the M-Wey Services Tournament to clinch the trophy.

The dream started to die as early as the sixth minute for New Zealand, as they sought a tournament victory at home as well as their first win over Australia in two years.

Sunni Hughes did the damage, coolly firing home beyond SWANZ 'keeper Rebecca Rolls, as New Zealand defenders appealed in vain for offside.

The game was marred by another injury to Australia's commanding central midfielder, Cheryl Salisbury. In her first game back after being stretchered off with ankle ligament damage against the SWANZ six days ago, she left the ground in an ambulance at half-time, her other ankle a sorry sight - fractured and dislocated after an awkward 33rd minute landing.

The Matildas sealed their win, and the tournament, in the 55th minute, Hughes the provider as Katrina Boyd finished clinically beyond Rolls to claim the Top Scorer title for herself.

The SWANZ were not without their chances, the best of them falling the way of Maureen Jacobson with two minutes remaining. But her volleyed strike counted for nothing, as the linesman raised his flag for offside.

Amanda Crawford impressed again for the SWANZ, while Terry McCahill had her best game of the tournament. But make a note of this name - Marlies Oostdam, a player for the future for New Zealand.

The newly-formed Lynn-Avon United club, hosts of the tournament, deserves commendation for its efforts towards the smooth operation of proceedings over what has been, by and large, a successful week for New Zealand women's soccer.

... And Looking Back On "That Game"!

07/11/96, 1-1 v. Papua New Guinea

Where do we go from here?

The title of Vanessa Williams' hit single from the movie 'Eraser' best sums up the mood of the women's soccer fraternity at present, after the 1-1 draw with Papua New Guinea at Anderson Park.

Words of dismay have been fired at me from any number of folk who were either at the game or aware of the result after perusing the following morning's Herald. They ranged from "absolutely appalled" and "disgusting" through to a very pertinent, yet worrying comment from a young player - no names - who, I believe, has great potential, providing she can sort out the problems currently hindering her career.

"If these are our best players, what hope have we got against stronger opposition in future internationals?", she asked.

Poor close control, purposeless passing, a lack of individuality, finishing of the highest disorder ... SWANZ coach Maurice Tillotson certainly hit the nail right on the head when he said, after the game, that they needed the workout!!

I, myself, was embarrassed. I felt as if I was a sports promoter who had done the job of building up the profile of the game, team, etc., only for the players to turn round and undo all that work with a performance of nightmarish proportions.

I mean, to draw 1-1, despite dominating the game, against Papua New Guinea, a country previously vanquished 5-0, 16-0, 11-0, 2-0 and 6-0 by the SWANZ - now that's really scraping the bottom of the barrel!!

But that's where we're at at the moment, though it pains me to say it. Perhaps the dreaded age issue needs to be redressed by Mr Tillotson, regardless of the accuracy, or

otherwise, of quotes attributed to him in days past.

The likes of Lyn Pedruco, Tillotson's own selection as Player of the Year at Lynn-Avon United, New Zealand's Players' Player of the Year, Michele Cox, and the country's most-capped female international, Maureen Jacobson (who, incidentally, was unavailable for this match due to work commitments), have international experience and know-how which, in a country with the limited playing numbers New Zealand has at its disposal, is too profound to cast aside in order to keep abreast of world trends.

By all means, set a target of putting out a team with an average age of 25. But at the same time, make sure that the collective experience of the side, in terms of the average number of caps per player, is either equal to, or greater than, said average age.

Women's soccer struggles, as things stand, to gain credibility in a largely male-dominated sport. Results such as this latest effort - don't forget, an away draw is widely considered to be a moral victory! - further erode that hard-earned credibility, not to mention sponsorship prospects.

At the end of the day, though, when a potential international of the future starts asking the sort of question aired earlier, i.e. "What hope have we got?", we should all be concerned.

NB Papua New Guinea's performance was greeted with much celebration back home, this being the best result ever recorded by a women's sports team from that country. As well, their sponsorship arrangement was extended by a further three years on the strength of this one result!

For the record, Melissa Ruscoe found the target for the SWANZ in the 56th minute, equalising Nellie Taman's goal scored eight minutes earlier - that's right, the SWANZ were 1-0 down!!

Battling The Odds, 1996-2005