KEY POINTS:
Fiji 2 New Zealand 0
A 10-man New Zealand lost to Fiji after goalkeeper Glen Moss was sent off in the second half of their Oceania Zone soccer World Cup qualifying match in Fiji last night.
Moss got his marching orders in the 59th minute, apparently for dissent after he tried to talk to referee Lencie Fred of Vanuatu about a goalmouth incident.
After a challenge by Osea Vakatalesau on James Pritchett, Moss approached Fred.
He was flashed the red card when he persisted in talking to Fred after being asked to move away.
The match held little significance because New Zealand have already been crowned Oceania Nations Cup champions and qualified to play against the fifth-best Asian qualifier for a place in the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
New Zealand fielded a "development" side without senior stars such as Shane Smeltz, and overseas players Ryan Nelsen and Chris Killen.
No goals were scored in the first half, although New Zealand had chances.
Nippy winger Leo Bertos delivered a cross in the second minute which Jeremy Brockie headed over the bar, and a Jeremy Christie drive sailed over the bar six minutes later.
Steven Old's shot from 18m grazed the top of the cross bar 10 minutes later and then a Greg Draper header looped over the Fiji goalkeeper only to strike a post .
Fiji, using only Roy Krishna upfront, hardly troubled the New Zealand goal.
But once Moss was sent off, coach Ricki Herbert had to bring on reserve goalie Jacob Spoonley and take Greg Draper off.
Within four minutes, Krishna struck the opening goal, running into the box and beating Spoonley with a low and hard shot into the net.
With an under-strength New Zealand chasing the game, Fiji found more gaps to exploit and Krishna, taking a cross from the right, went round Old to rifle home his second goal from inside the six-metre box in the 90th minute.
Herbert said his side, who had about 80 per cent of possession, should have converted several chances.
But he said the game had been a good grounding for young players such as Costa Barbarouses and Jeremy Brockie who filled the strikers' roles.
He did not know if Moss's red card would lead to further sanctions for the Confederations Cup tournament or the World Cup qualifier next year.
- NZPA
