KEY POINTS:
New Zealand coach Stu Jacobs is relieved to have got past Fiji albeit narrowly in the opening match of the Oceania zone Olympics soccer qualifying tournament in Lautoka.
New Zealand yesterday brushed aside one of their main rivals for an Olympics berth with a goal two minutes from time through defender Steven Old for their 2-1 win.
"There's no secret to the fact that with only ten days preparation, we're a bit rusty so we really needed a game under our belts," Jacobs said.
"It's a good start and one we really needed.
"We're in the box seat now but we're mindful that the Solomon Islands are still to come."
The Solomons top the table after the first round on goal difference after beating Papua New Guniea 6-1.
Vanuatu's 4-0 defeat the Cook Islands pushed New Zealand down to third in the standings.
"It was all you'd expect from a New Zealand-Fiji encounter." Jacobs said.
"It was end-to-end at times and both teams had lots of chances... there were two very tired teams out there."
New Zealand took the lead after 33 minutes when midfielder Cole Peverley hit a long range shot past Fiji goalkeeper Benaminio from 30 metres.
Fiji equalised seven minutes later Malakai Tiwa's shot appeared to take a deflection off Steven Old leaving Oly-Whites goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley stranded.
However, Old made amends with his 90th minute winner.
He timed his run to perfection to fire home Dan Keat's corner unopposed and trigger wild celebrations from players and bench alike after a tense second half of sustained New Zealand pressure.
New Zealand play Vanuatu tomorrow night in their second match of the six team round-robin tournament.
Scores: New Zealand 2 (Cole Peverley 33, Steven Old 90) Fiji 1 (Own goal 41). Halftime: 1-1.
- NZPA
