South Africa 2
All Whites 0
RUSTENBURG - The All Whites faced the acid test yesterday which left another Confederations Cup dream in tatters.
While there might have been some sympathy for their shell-shocked effort in surrendering 5-0 to Spain in their tournament opener, there was no such concession in this 2-0 loss to South Africa. How, it must be asked, can a team who a week earlier played so well against world champions Italy, fail so miserably against one ranked 72.
With only Sunday's game against Iraq to play, the All Whites are again out of the race and face an embarrassing third cup campaign without a point - let alone a victory.
It will be nine-from-nine losses unless coach Ricki Herbert can somehow conjure a magical turnaround. He has already hinted at changes for the game at Ellis Park
But after playing 180 minutes here so far without scoring a goal, creating no more than a handful of even half chances and forcing even fewer corners, the chances of snapping out of a dream which has turned to another nightmare will need more than simply different personnel.
Herbert showed his hand in the second half against Bafana Bafana calling in captain Tim Brown, playmaker Leo Bertos and star striker Chris Killen.
There was, surely, a message in that and a more than subtle hint he was not happy at what was unfolding as the hosts, cheered on by almost 30,000 noisy fans, again exposed New Zealand on the flanks with Herbert expressing dismay with the efforts of both fullbacks David Mulligan (right) and Tony Lochhead (left).
That all seven goals have came from balls played in from New Zealand's right underlined defensive fragilities.
With just one shot on goal, from only five attempts, the All Whites were never going to win. South Africa had 22 shots - almost half on target. With only 44 per cent of possession, and much of that in their defensive third, New Zealand had little hope.
"It was disappointing. A few of the players struggled to get going tonight," said Herbert. "We are still chasing that elusive point at this level and we will do that on Sunday."
Asked whether his team will try to help the South Africans qualify for the semifinals by not losing to Iraq - who turned in a gutsy effort in only losing 1-0 to Spain in yesterday's early game - Herbert was coy.
"We will re-evaluate and then certainly go out with the intention of getting a result [against Iraq]," he said. "Some key players did not back-up tonight. We will evaluate that over the next 24 hours."
Soccer: Herbert needs major change as dream turns to nightmare
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