Source: OFC Media
Defending champions New Zealand have made an impressive start to their OFC Futsal Nations Cup 2023 campaign with a 6-3 win over Vanuatu in their Group A opener at Auckland’s Bruce Pulman Arena.
The damage was done in a blistering first half performance from the Futsal Whites who were simply superb in front of goal, ending a the game as a contest in the first spell with five different players finding the back of the net to give Marvin Eakins side a 5-0 lead at the break.
To their credit Vanuatu fought back in the second spell winning the half 3-1.
New Zealand skipper Dylan Manickum led from the front and fired his side into a second minute lead with a blistering right foot shot which beat Vanuatu goalkeeper Anthony Quai at his near post.
Stephen Ashby Peckham came close to doubling the lead on a couple of occasions as New Zealand laid siege on the Vanuatu goal.
Vanuatu’s best chance in the opening stanza fell to Kevin Donald in the 7th minute but his shot on target was well blocked by Mike Antamanov in the New Zealand goal.
New Zealand duly doubled their lead in the 9th minute when Rahan Ali blasted home after a superb pass from Oban Hawkins. Logan Wiesnewski made it 3-0 three minutes later with a curling right foot shot into the corner after a freekick was played square across the goal.
The Futsal Whites suffered an injury setback late in the half when Antamanov hobbled off with a lower leg injury and was replaced by Patrick Steele.
There was still time for New Zealand to score two goals in the final two minutes of the half with impressive strikes from Casey Sharplin and Oban Hawkins.
When Sharplin scored the sixth goal for New Zealand five minutes into the second spell, it looked as if the Kiwis would run away with it.
But Vanuatu never gave up and were rewarded three minutes later when captain Michel Coulon scrambled the ball own after putting the Kiwi defence under pressure. Then two minutes later Kemly Lehi fired home to finish a sweeping move down the court after Vanuatu won a turnover in the New Zealand half.
Kevin Donald with a lovely finish scored Vanuatu’s third goal three minutes from the end and although they didn’t win, the second half performance will give Vanuatu plenty of confidence for their remaining fixtures against Tonga and Fiji.
New Zealand: 6 (Dylan MANICKUM 2’, Rahan ALI 9’, Logan WISNEWSKI 12’, Casey SHARPLIN 19’, 25’, Oban HAWKINS 20’)
Vanuatu: 3 (Michel COULON 28’, Kemly LEHI 30’, Kevin DONALD 27′)
HT 5-0
Source: OFC
