Socceroos steal win from All Whites

BY FRED WOODCOCK

Last updated 23:45 24/05/2010

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All Whites v Socceroos highlights

The Age

WHITE NOISE: The All Whites crowd around striker Chris Killen after his 17th minute goal to open the scoring against Australia, as the 'White Noise' celebrate in the stands.

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All Whites

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Australia's famed theatre of sporting dreams threatened to turn into a house of horrors for the Socceroos before natural order was restored with a last gasp 2-1 win against a gallant All Whites side.

For 60 minutes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground tonight it was difficult to tell which side was ranked inside the world's top 20 and which was ranked at No 78.

But Australia's pace and class eventually prevailed through a Brett Holman injury-time winner as the Socceroos left for the World Cup with their reputations in tact and New Zealand with their credibility enhanced before a crowd of 55,659.

All the talk was of a match where the result mattered little but the two teams were far from friendly in their actions toward each other.

It was a willing encounter in which New Zealand not only held their own but dominated their more esteemed opponents for the first 60 minutes.

As the substitutions flowed and players found themselves out of position - central defender Andy Boyens played almost 40 minutes as a right wing-back, one of six changes made by All Whites coach Ricki Herbert - things got messy.

Australia, too, made seven changes as both coaches took the opportunity to look at players with the World Cup just a few weeks away.

The fans appeared to be in for a long night after what could only be described as a forgettable opening 10 minutes, but the first half quickly transformed into a gripping one that New Zealand dominated.

Both teams were underdone but it was the All Whites who looked more comfortable together in the first half. They were composed with the ball and urgent without it.

Striker Chris Killen got the opening goal in the 16th minute, finished at the far post after Shane Smeltz deftly nodded on a Simon Elliott right-wing cross. It was a lead the All Whites deserved and Killen went close to doubling it soon after when he rifled a left-foot volley on the turn, only to be denied by the woodwork.

The All Whites had other chances, through Tim Brown and the impressive Rory Fallon in the first half and a gilt-edged one to Fallon in the second, but his free header was directed straight at goalkeeper Adam Federici.
Australia lacked intensity and after they fell behind they looked rattled.

That showed in some of the challenges and Leo Bertos was lucky to escape the match without severe injury after first Vince Grella then Tim Cahill mowed him down with two ugly challenges in the space of three minutes. Bertos was stretchered off the field after the second one but was later seen walking comfortably on the sideline.

The New Zealand camp reported a gash on his leg but no long-term concerns.

Winston Reid came on as a straight swap for Bertos in the unfamiliar position wide-right, making his international debut. He appeared to struggle till he moved into a back three where he showed touches of class and signs he will quickly become a regular in Herbert's starting team.

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Australia finally rolled up the socks in the second half and got the equaliser through Dario Vidisic in the 57th minute after a sustained period of pressure. The All Whites had their chances, but they ran out of legs and Holman picked home a winner.

Australia 2 (Dario Vidosic 57, Brett Holman 90+4) New Zealand 1 (Chris Killen 16). HT: 0-1

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