KEY POINTS:
New Zealand 7 Samoa 1
New Zealand got their bid for the Oceania under-20 championship back on track yesterday with a 7-1 win over Samoa at Trusts Stadium in Henderson.
It was a much-needed morale-booster but still some way short of what they will need if they are to make certain of qualifying for the world championships.
The Junior All Whites produced little flowing football and struggled, especially in the first spell, to come to terms with the Samoan offside trap.
New Zealand hit the front just 1m 6s into the game when Dan Keat was unchallenged in heading home a Chris James free kick. But it did not produce the anticipated onslaught.
The second goal, 33 minutes later, was a mirror image with Sam Jenkins scoring the simple header. Jeremy Brockie was credited with the third, in the 39th minute, when an attempted clearance struck him and rebounded into the goal.
The Samoans got one back just before the break when some sloppy defence left Silao Malo unchallenged in scoring.
Four second-half goals, including a second and third for Jenkins, ensured the points would go to New Zealand, but there was again the feeling that this is a team yet to hit their straps.
Coach Stu Jacobs was happy enough.
"We went out to score goals and improve our performance," he said. "It could have been 10 or 12 [goals] if players on attack had passed the responsibility on. We did not deal with their offside trap, which did not help."
They will need to get back to something closer to their best for tomorrow's game against the Tahitians, who drew yesterday's opening game 2-2 with Vanuatu.
In the crucial game of the third day, Fiji had an easier-than-expected 3-0 win over the Solomons after leading 1-0 at halftime.