Beaten Oly-Whites earn coach's praise

Coach Stu Jacobs has hailed the Oly-Whites' first Olympic men's football foray a success despite his team failing to make the quarterfinals.

But he has also hit out at a "harsh'' sending off of striker Daniel Ellensohn in today's 0-1 loss to European under-21 champion Belgium in Shanghai.

Ellensohn got his marching orders in the first minute of the second half for a reckless lunge at Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen.
 
New Zealand already trailed 0-1 at the time but Chilean referee Pablo Pozo's decision forced the Oly-Whites to play the rest of the game with 10 men - for the second time at the tournament. Steven Old was dismissed in the 39th minute of the 1-1 draw with China last Thursday.

"I thought the sending off was harsh,'' Jacobs said. "Even some of the Fifa officials thought it was a yellow card, at best. But I've watched some of the other games and several red cards have been pretty harsh. I suppose the referees have been consistent, but it doesn't make it any easier, playing with 10 men.''

Jacobs said he "couldn't fault the endeavour of the guys when they go down to 10 men''.

"What we lack in technique we certainly make up for in desire.''

New Zealand needed to beat Belgium to advance to the quarterfinals but the Europeans now join Brazil, who beat China 3-0 today, as the two Group C qualifiers.

The Oly-Whites finished last in the group, on goal difference from China, after drawing 1-1 with the host nation before a 5-0 thumping by Brazil.

But Jacobs rated the New Zealanders' Olympic campaign as a "seven out of 10'' success.

"I think we fell sort of what we wanted to achieve, which was to get through to the quarter-finals. But I don't think we fell short by much.''

Jacobs said the Oly-Whites -  most of them amateur players up against fully-fledged professionals -  had done "pretty well'' given the team's relatively limited build-up.

He hoped several players might have caught the eye of overseas scouts, citing midfielder Cole Peverley, 18-year-old leftback Ian Hogg and defender Steven Old, "who was huge tonight (against Belgium) as having consistent tournaments.

Jacobs said New Zealand showed fighting spirit against China and Belgium but needed to bridge the gap "in terms of technical ability''.

Belgium had 17 shots on goal to the Oly-Whites' four but only found the New Zealand net once after a 35th minute corner. Oly-Whites goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley called confidently for the ball but flapped at it and it dropped between New Zealand's two tallest players Chris Killen and Michael Boxall. Belgian midfielder Faris Haroun snuck between to ram home a header.

Jacobs said the goal was disappointing but he said Spoonley "made a couple of tremendous saves for us'' to keep the Oly-Whites in contention.

New Zealand had a great chance in the first half when midfielder Cole Peverley, one of the Oly-Whites' best players, got clear after Killen nutmegged a Belgium defender. But Peverley pulled the ball across the face of goal and was unable to find the lurking Ellensohn.

Killen looked set to score in the 73rd minute when he latched on to a good ball from substitute Sam Messam. Killen's left-footed lash looked goalbound until Belgium goalkeeper Logan Bailly stuck out a boot and deflected it for a corner.

Boxall had a free header late in the match but Belgium made most of the play, hit the woodwork three times and were several times denied by sprawling saves by Spoonley.

- © Fairfax NZ News