Soccer: Embarrassed All Whites cling to hope

SYDNEY- The mortified All Whites are still shell-shocked after their 4-2 Oceania Nations Cup soccer loss to Vanuatu last night.

Coach Mick Waitt said they needed to regroup smartly to keep their fading hopes in this World Cup qualifying series alive.

New Zealand slumped to their most embarrassing defeat in recent history in Adelaide last night, crashing to a tiny Pacific Island nation boasting a population of just 160,000.

The All Whites, who need to finish second to hot favourites Australia in order to be in contention to represent Oceania at next year's Confederations Cup and the 2006 World Cup, were a picture of despair after the final whistle at Hindmarsh Stadium.

"It was very quiet in the dressing room as you'd expect. It's not an experience any of us want to go through again," Waitt said after watching New Zealand's biggest soccer disaster since losing to Papua New Guinea in 1997.

The devastating loss places New Zealand's campaign to reach next year's lucrative Confederations Cup and the 2006 World Cup in jeopardy.

Sitting fourth in the six-team competition, they must win their last two matches against Tahiti tomorrow (4.30pm, NZT) and Fiji on Sunday to avoid the ignominy of failing to book a rematch with the dominant Socceroos later in the year.

Pre-tournament a trans-Tasman showdown was forecast to decide who will represent Oceania at the Confed Cup and another World Cup play-off against a South American nation.

Other than winning their final two group matches, the All Whites will have to rely on Australia defeating the Solomon Islands in the competition finale on Sunday should Fiji lost or draw with the Solomons tomorrow.

"There's a few scenarios but if we win both games then all things being equal we should progress," said Waitt, who was still struggling to come to terms with the low point of his 2-1/2-year stint in charge of the team.

Waitt had an awkward assignment of lifting the squad today.

"I explained to the senior players exactly what's at stake and reiterated how important it was to get around the players and lift the spirits.

"I've been around most of the players -- they're devastated and embarrassed by the loss but they realise they still have an opportunity.

"Everyone thought we were gone after we lost the game. The reality is it's not over yet. I think that surprised a few."

On a positive note, Waitt did not believe the Australians would not lie down against the Solomons if given the chance to kill off New Zealand.

"They're too professional for that," he said.

"There's a few things at stake for them commercially. I'm sure they want to play New Zealand and I'm sure they want to keep their results up for their world ranking."

Mercifully, the All Whites had little time to reflect on their performance against Vanuatu, with winless Tahiti looming tomorrow.

"We have a very short turn around because we've got the early kick off tomorrow," Waitt said.

"We had a recovery session in the pool and a group of massage therapists have come in to rejuvenate the legs."

Waitt has understandably revamped his defensive formation, for tomorrow, shifting Duncan Oughton from midfield to right back. Steven Old also joins the back four with captain Ryan Nelsen moving forward to midfield.

Raffaele De Gregorio comes into the midfield in place of the suspended Ivan Vicelich.

David Mulligan was also unavailable after being struck down with food poisoning.

Defender Rupesh Puna, striker Leo Bertos and Vicelich are missing from the line-up humbled by Vanuatu.

The players were off limits today, leaving Waitt to explain the Vanuatu debacle.

"Vanuatu only had five attacks and scored four goals. That's disappointing and a little bit freakish," he said.

"We had enough opportunities to win the game ourselves, we didn't take it, we didn't deliver enough quality ball into the area as the game wore on when we started to chase things.

"Obviously we left ourselves wide open at the back and in all fairness to the Vanuatu team they counter-attacked very well and their finishing was clinical."

New Zealand: Mark Paston, Duncan Oughton, Steven Old, Che Bunce, Tony Lochhead, Ryan Nelsen (captain), Michael Wilson, Raffaele De Gregorio, Brent Fisher, Vaughan Coveny, Aaran Lines.

- NZPA