By TERRY MADDAFORD
PAPEETE - A no-nonsense Australian team, saving their best until last, won back the Oceania soccer crown with a comfortable goal-in-each-half 2-0 win over a hesitant New Zealand in last night's Nations Cup final at Stade de Pater.
Showing their class and professionalism, the Socceroos gave New Zealand little in claiming the trophy the All Whites had won in the same final two years ago.
"It was nothing different from what we expected," said All Whites captain Chris Jackson. "They are a good team.
"If we had held them until halftime it could have been different, but conceding a goal just before the break left us playing catch-up.
"We got bluffed out of some decisions by the Australians, who are masters at off-the-ball incidents and claiming everything."
Coach Ken Dugdale echoed Jackson's feelings.
"We are disappointed obviously, but they are quality players playing in a quality grade of football," he said.
"Our players were a bit tense and the tackles were flying around. It was never going to be pretty and we did not really have enough ball to compete.
"I was pleased with the way the youngsters again stuck to it."
From the outset it was obvious there was no place for faint hearts.
In the best tradition of transtasman sporting battles, this was a standoff, with football at times a mere by-product.
After 27 minutes of willing exchanges, Vanuatu referee Harry Attison had had enough.
A vicious tackle on Danny Tiatto earned Gavin Wilkinson a booking, and before halftime, Tiatto, after chopping Jackson down, was also in the referee's book - as was Socceroos midfielder Craig Foster after a heated exchange with linesman Teariki Goodwin.
In between times, the Australians had taken the lead.
From the Socceroos sixth corner - to New Zealand's one - of the spell, Stan Lazaridis floated the ball beyond the far post. Paul Agostino headed back, again avoiding Jason Batty's despairing efforts, to Kevin Murphy who simply hit home unchallenged from close range.
The All Whites' best chance came in the 35th minute when Simon Elliott snapped a shot which Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac spilled but regained just ahead of Kris Bouckenooghe's challenge.
Australia consolidated their lead in the 66th minute when Tiatto raced past Wilkinson and turned Che Bunce before firing a pinpoint cross which the rampant Foster headed home.
The vastly experienced Australians, using their height and physical presence to good effect, gave the plucky All Whites nothing more than scraps in the second spell, conceding just two corners and restricting them to a couple of half chances.
In the curtainraiser, the Solomon Islands came from a goal down at halftime to beat Vanuatu 2-1 and claim third place. Vanuatu's Richard Iwai was later named the player of the tournament ahead of Elliott.
Soccer: Aussies prove too hot in Cup decider
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