By TERRY MADDAFORD
PAPEETE - Two superb Simon Elliott free-kicks finally shook the shackles from the New Zealand soccer team who beat the Solomon Islands 2-0 in Papeete last night to earn the right to defend the Oceania Nations Cup against Australia.
In their best performance at the tournament, the All Whites dominated for long periods and with a little luck and better finishing they would have won by more.
It was, however, a better effort than the Australian Socceroos managed in beating Vanuatu 1-0 in the first semifinal.
New Zealand coach Ken Dugdale was a happier man after the victory, but will still be looking for more.
"It was a good result and a better performance, but I know we can still do better," Dugdale said.
"We will have a recovery session in the pool tomorrow and then look at it. We should have scored more goals, but at least the effort was there.
"We have got the first stage out of the way. Now we have the chance to defend our title in Thursday's final."
The All Whites created five half-chances in the first spell and could have earned a penalty when Chris Jackson was brought down from behind.
But it was the Solomons who went closest when Batram Suri hit a shot which would have found the net but for a deflection from Che Bunce which sent the ball just over the crossbar.
Five minutes into the second spell, Jackson was brought down on the edge of the penalty area.
Elliott stepped forward and beat the 10-man defensive wall with a great volley.
In an exact replay when Killen was dragged down five minutes later, Elliott again beat the gathered defence by whacking the ball in at the other bottom corner.
The Australians looked anything but a multi-million-dollar team in ending Vanuatu's stay in Papeete.
Their only goal was a dubious, fifth-minute penalty from Kevin Muscat following a disputed handball call.
New Zealand 2 (Simon Elliott 51, 55) Solomon Islands 0. Ht: 0-0.
Soccer: All Whites to meet Australia in final
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