When 180 minutes of supposed international soccer fails to produce a goal, it is hard to get excited.
For the second time in three days, New Zealand A and Tahiti played out a scoreless draw.
Sadly, last night's game at Trusts Stadium was all too reminiscent of the
unimaginative performance in the first game at Bill McKinlay Park two days earlier. It was hard to fathom why there was not more effort and determination from the New Zealand A players handed a second-to-none opportunity to press claims for higher honours.
For long periods there was little urgency, which led to the feeling that the players had one eye firmly on tomorrow's round of New Zealand Football Championship fixtures rather than the task at hand.
The introduction of Allan Pearce (in for Ian Sandbrook) to the wide role on the left gave some hope, and when he played a good ball in to the far post to set up Adam Cowan after seven minutes, the again disappointingly small crowd held their collective breaths, but only until Cowan weakly volleyed wide.
Two shots in the 28th and 32nd minutes from Ian Robinson and Trent Watson threatened to break the deadlock but both found the underside of the crossbar, bounced down and stayed out.
The home side forced their first corners late in the spell, both pumped harmlessly by Andy Barron to Tahitian goalkeeper Xavier Samin.
While New Zealand A were disappointing, the visitors were no better.
They lacked any real go forward and did not force a save from Mark Paston in the first 45 minutes.
Again, he was well supported by defenders Ben Sigmund, one of only a handful to emerge with a pass mark, and Watson. Robinson worked well in midfield but too often lacked support while up front Brent Fisher, again without meaningful support, probably did his All Whites selection hopes no harm.
Other contenders for the national squad to begin World Cup preparations were missing in action.
