31 May 2016

All Whites trounce Vanuatu at Oceania Nations Cup

9:04 pm on 31 May 2016

New Zealand have trounced Vanuatu 5-nil in their second match of the Oceania Nations Cup in Papua New Guinea.

The All Whites beat Fiji 3-1 in their opening game and their latest match was effectively over after ten minutes, by which time New Zealand led 3-nil.

Skipper Chris Wood scored the opener after just four minutes, when the Vanuatu defence was unable to pick up a long throw in from Bill Tuiloma and the ball fell at the feet of Chris Wood who was sitting on the corner post to tuck it away.

Chris Wood in aerial action in the draw with China

Chris Wood (right) scored two goals for the All Whites. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Wood's second came straight from the kick off when a poor back pass from Vanuatu was pounced on by Wood who made it two nil.

Michael McGlinchey scored the third with a free kick from just outside the penalty area, popping it over the defensive wall and curling it into the top left of the goal leaving the Vanuatu keeper stranded.

Vanuatu's misery was compounded at the 20 minute mark when Rory Fallon capitalised on yet another defensive error.

As the keeper came out he intially seemed to shut Fallon down but Fallon was able to regain possession and slot the ball over the keeper to make it 4-nil.

That allowed All Whites coach Anthony Hudson to use his bench, opting to replace Wood up front with Kosta Barbarouses.

The fourth goal also finally seemed to bring Vanuatu to life as they managed to retain posession and made a few attacking forays into the New Zealand half, where they created a few chances but were unable to convert them.

Kosta Barbarouses then added more misery for Vanuatu scoring New Zealand's fifth goal on the stroke of halftime.

Vanuatu were much more competitive in the second half particularly on the counter attack but despite creating several scoring chances failed to convert.

The sting appeared to go out of the All Whites in the second half and while they created chances they too lacked the finishing to add to their five goals in the first half.

They too created chances but were unable to finish as they had in the first half.

New Zealand's final pool match is against the Solomon Islands on Saturday.

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