Oceania Nations Cup
Auckland, New Zealand 2002

With Soccer Australia almost destitute and unable to pay for overseas based players' airfares, a predominantly home-based team on a shoe string budget set out for New Zealand to win the 2002 edition of the Oceania Nations Cup and hence qualify for next year's Confederation Cup.  Confirmation to even participate was given only 12 days prior to the tournament starting, which meant that any overseas based players already in the country on holidays could not make plans for the tournament even if they wanted to play.  Instead, all except Scott Chipperfield went back to Europe for pre-season training.  Therefore, Steve "The Blur" Horvat found himself dragged out of national team retirement and installed as captain as coach Farina sought to build a team based on experienced units of players from NSL clubs that mostly contested the final series last May.

The scheduling of the ONC did not help either with the Kiwis and Oceania controversially refusing to bring it forward to ensure a late-May/early-June start when players were still fit from their just completed league seasons and most overseas based players would be available.  While NZ had been able to have its full strength team in camp and in training for the past month and with several warm-up games, Australia's team goes into the tournament with only personal training through the post-season break and with no lead-up games in NZ.  One was scheduled, but persistent rain cancelled that, as well as several training sessions.

New Zealand are rightfully favoured to win the tournament, while Australia will have to hope that they can click in the group games.  Farina's faith in tried and tested units of players does seem to be the right way to go given the circumstances.  There's not much else that he can do anyway, and SA has already stated that a loss in the tournament will not see him lose his job.  But he really needs to win the tournament for it will, at the very least, would gain him some much needed brownie points that were lost with his tactical errors in those World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay last year.

2002 Oceania Championships
Venue: New Zealand
Date: 5-14 July, 2002
Holders: Australia

Pool A
New Zealand vs Tahiti: 4-0
Soloman Islands vs PNG: 0-0
New Zealand vs PNG: 9-1
Solomon Islands vs Tahiti: 3-2
New Zealand vs Solomon Islands: 6-1
Tahiti vs PNG: 3-1

Pool B
Australia vs Vanuatu: 2-0
Fiji vs New Caledonia: 2-1
Australia vs New Caledonia: 11-0
Fiji vs Vanuatu: 0-1
Australia vs Fiji: 8-0
Vanuatu vs New Caledonia: 1-0

Semi Finals
New Zealand vs Vanuatu: 3-0
Australia vs Tahiti: 2-1 (extra time)

Third Place
Tahiti vs Vanuatu: 1-0

Final
New Zealand vs Australia: 1-0

Match reports other than the final courtesy of AAP, socceraustralia.com.au, theworldgame.com.au and theage.com.au

First Round: Australia vs Vanuatu
6 July 2002: Australia's rusty start overcome by Perth Glory duo's goals
The most prolific goalscoring duo in the NSL, Damien Mori and Bobby Despotovski, steered Australia to a 2-0 victory over a gallant Vanuatu in the opening match of the Oceania Nations Cup at Ericsson Stadium, Auckland tonight.  Mori scored his 27th goal for the Socceroos in the 69th minute while Despotovski, making his Socceroo debut, sealed victory with a 81st minute strike.

When selecting the team for the Oceania Nations Cup, Coach Frank Farina went for combinations at NSL level, and that decision paid instant dividends with the Perth Glory duo steering the Socceroos to a scratchy first-up win. Mori’s 27th goal in “A” internationals could well end up being one of his most important.  The opening goal came as a huge relief to the Socceroos, who struggled to get over the top of a Vanuatu team, which fought hard in the midfield and defence in a typically stoic performance.  Mori’s strike allowed the Socceroos to relax and it came as no surprise when substitute Despotovski doubled the lead just nine minutes from time.

It was the third time Australia has faced Vanuatu in a full international and the third time the Socceroos were tested by the tiny Pacific Island nation. The two previous matches finished 1-0 and were just as tense as tonight’s game. The first half saw the Socceroos denied two strong penalty claims with a certain handball missed in the 15th minute and the referee once again waved away claims when Mori was brought to the turf as he was about to shoot in the 39th minute. Despite the two claims it was the Vanuatu side that had the best chance of the first period with a magnificent piece of defence from Jade North stopping a certain goal on 31 minutes.

As was expected, Vanuatu sat deep in defence and tried to hit the Socceroos on the break with the Australians struggling to break down the resolute Vanuatu backline.   The sides went to the break locked at 0-0 and the trend continued after half time with Vanuatu defending well, adding to the frustration of the Socceroo outfit.  Throughout the match it was apparent the Socceroos were understandably struggling for cohesion after a long period of inactivity for most of the players.  But, just as they have done countless times for Perth Glory over the past two years, Mori and Despotovski saved the day and gave Farina’s men the perfect start to the tournament.

Second Round: Australia vs New Caledonia
8 July 2002: 11-0 Australian romp as Despotovski runs wild
A Bobby Despotovski inspired Socceroos outfit flexed its muscles with an emphatic 11-0 victory over a totally out-played New Caledonia at the Oceania Nations Cup in Auckland tonight.   Frank Farina’s men attacked with purpose and conviction and did what they had to do in defence with composure as they gave the youthful New Caledonian team a football lesson at Ericsson Stadium.

The cohesion and teamwork were vastly improved in the Socceroo outfit but it was the performance of Perth Glory striker Despotovski that was the talking point after he celebrated his first starting appearance in the green and gold with four goals.  Basel FC midfielder Scott Chipperfield also scored a double with Captain Steve Horvat, Damien Mori, Joel Porter, Angelo Costanzo and Paul Trimboli also finding the back of the net. The goals by Horvat, Porter and Costanzo were their first for the Socceroos in a match full of milestones.

Ante Juric and Dean Anastasiadis made their debuts with Anastasiadis becoming the oldest debutante in Socceroo history when he took his pace between the sticks while Porter also made his debut when introduced as a second half substitute.

After a scratchy start to the tournament, which saw them struggle to get over the top of Vanuatu 2-0, the Socceroos continued along the improvement curve that Farina hopes will see them peak in time for Sunday’s final against New Zealand.  The Socceroos got off to the perfect start in the 3rd minute when Despotovski netted but few would have predicted the tidal wave that was about to flow from his boots.  Horvat continued the early dominance with a strike in the 15th minute as the youthful New Caledonian side was struggling with the power and finesse of the Socceroos.  By the 35th minute the Socceroos led 5-0 after Chipperfield notched a double and Mori scored his 28th goal in “A” internationals and at that stage it was obviously going to be a case of by how much the Socceroos would win the match.

The New Caledonian team then enjoyed its best period of the game, making some inroads and keeping the Socceroos scoreless for 20 minutes before Despotovski converted a penalty to make it 6-0 in the 56th minute after Mori was fouled in the penalty box.  It signalled a remarkable finish with Despotovski making it 8-0 with goals in the 77th and 78th minutes before Costanzo (83rd), Porter (87th) and Trimboli (92nd) put the icing on the cake.  The Socceroos now face Fiji in the final group game at Ericsson Stadium on Wednesday afternoon (5.30pm AEST).

Australia is certain to qualify top of the group after Fiji, which was expected to be the other semi-finalist from the Socceroos' group, was upset 1-0 by Vanuatu in Monday's other match.  A sixth minute goal to Willie August Marango was enough to give Vanuatu a surprise win.  New Zealand has already qualified for the semi-finals with wins in its opening two matches and looks likely to be the Socceroos' opponent in the final on Sunday.

Third Round: Australia vs Fiji
10 July 2002: Fiji look to Scheinflug after 8-0 collapse to Australia
A Socceroo line-up with seven changes from the team that crushed New Caledonia earlier in the week routed a demoralised Fiji 8-0 last night.  The result could signal the end of the road for Fiji coach Billy Singh, who is expected to be replaced by former Socceroo boss Les Scheinflug.

Australia's win, highlighted by a four-goal haul for Melbourne Knights striker Joel Porter, sets up an Oceania Nations Cup semi-final against Tahiti tomorrow. Vanuatu, which beat New Caledonia 1-0 in the earlier game, will play New Zealand in the other semi-final.  But the most significant news of the day is that Scheinflug, out of the game since his contract as Soccer Australia's technical director expired earlier this year, is being lined up to replace Singh, who has been in charge of Fiji for 17 years.  The German-born Scheinflug had to decline an earlier approach to take charge of Fiji for this tournament because of contractual difficulties as he saw out his time with Soccer Australia.

Last night, he confirmed he had been asked to take over as Fiji's head coach, after Fijian Football Association president Samsudean Sahu Khan told a news conference that approaches had been made to the former Australian boss, and to a Brazilian to become youth development coach.  Scheinflug said he would now "certainly consider the position".  If appointed, he would be responsible for the Fijians' efforts to thwart Australia's bid to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

Scheinflug captained the first Socceroo team that tried to qualify for the World Cup, in the mid-1960s, and was Rale Rasic's assistant in the campaign for the 1974 finals, the only World Cup finals that Australia has reached.   He was in charge of the Joeys team that made the world under-17 championship final in Auckland in 1999, only to lose to Brazil after a penalty shootout.  After that he was given the job of Soccer Australia's technical director, but he was left on the outer once Socceroo coach Frank Farina sought to stamp his own authority on the national coaching set-up.

The Socceroos' romp last night ensured the elimination of the disappointing Fijians, who have played with little fight or conviction in this tournament.  They had to beat Australia to stay alive, and the task always looked beyond them.  Since Fiji last beat Australia, in the inhospitable surrounds of Nandi's Prince Charles Park in 1986, better Fijian teams than the rabble that showed up last night have tried and failed to repeat that achievement.

The match was effectively over in the first 13 minutes when the Socceroos raced to a 3-0 lead.   Ante Milicic opened the scoring in the fifth minute with his first goal for the national team, and Porter, making his debut in the starting XI, doubled the lead in the eighth minute and made it 3-0 five minutes later.   Defender Ante Juric got on the scoresheet in the 36th minute, and Porter completed his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time. Veteran Paul Trimboli claimed No. 6 just after the restart and Porter added another to his haul in the 53rd minute. Fausto de Amicis completed the scoring with a minute to go.

In their three group games, the Socceroos scored 21 goals without conceding one.  Vanuatu, a country with a population of only 180,000, had to beat New Caledonia to ensure its second Nations Cup semi-final appearance in succession, and had to live on its nerves for most of the match.  But it got the breakthrough it so desperately wanted in the 76th minute through striker Richard Iwai.

Semi Final: Australia vs Tahiti
12 July 2002: Fortunate Australia scrape into the final against New Zealand
Australia have gone within minutes of one of the most embarrassing defeats in their history, only equalising two minutes before time in their Oceania Nations Cup semi-final against Tahiti before prevailing 2-1 thanks to a golden goal.  Teva Zaveroni had given Tahiti a shock 1-0 lead in the 38th minute, and Australia was just moments from a stunning elimination from the tournament before stand-in skipper Mehmet Durakovic salvaged an equaliser in the 88th minute.  That forced the game into extra time, and the period was just six minutes old when veteran Perth Glory striker Damian Mori rescued the result for the Socceroos with his golden goal.

In the night's second semi-final, New Zealand completed a regulation 3-0 win over Vanuatu thanks to a double to Mark Burton in the 13th and 64th minutes and a third goal from Chris Killen in the 32nd minute.

Criticised before the tournament began for taking an ageing squad to New Zealand, Socceroos coach Frank Farina’s position is sure to come under pressure regardless of whether the team goes on to win the tournament.  "I don't think we can play any worse than that and we were lucky to get through in the end," Farina said.  "There's no excuses when you pull on the Australian jersey. You expect players to lift and that performance tonight was not the standard I expect from the team.  Sometimes you have a bit of luck in football and tonight we had a great deal of it."

Farina added that he hopes his players will lift accordingly for Sunday's final, even though skipper Steve Horvat is in doubt with a leg problem and Patrick Kisnorbo unlikely because of a groin injury - both having missed the semi-final. "It's hard to know how players are going to perform but going in after what happened tonight, you'd like to think everyone is going to be tuned in," he said. "They bloody better be."

Zaveroni made the most of some woeful Australian defence when the ball bobbled in front of him from a long throw in before beating goalkeeper Jason Petkovic with his skewed shot from close range. Farina was then required to swing the changes in the second half in response to the goal as Tahiti's plan to get behind the ball and chase a goal on the counter attack paid dividends. On came Porter, Robbie Middleby and Paul Trimboli, and it was Porter who helped saved Australian blushes.  Veteran Durakovic's goal came when he made the most of a fumble from Tahiti keeper Xavier Samin following a free kick from Mori.  Porter and Mori then combined in extra time when Porter fired in the corner that Mori met perfectly to head past Samin.

Australia were very flat, and not switched on.   "Maybe they under-estimated the team of Tahiti, maybe that is why they (the Australians) weren't strong mentally," Tahiti coach Patrick Jacequemet noted.   "I am proud but I will be prouder if we finish third in this tournament. We need more experiences like that... we had just 15 days of preparation."    But Farina, who confessed to "shitting himself" whilst watching the carnage unfold on bench, could certainly do without such experiences in the future.

Australia: Jason Petkovic, Angelo Costanzo, Fausto De Amicis (Robbie Middleby 51), Mehmet Durakovic, Ante Juric, Scott Chipperfield, Tom Pondeljak, Jade North, Milan Blagojevic (Paul Trimboli 65), Damien Mori, Bobby Despotovski (Joel Porter 51).

Final: New Zealand vs Australia.  Third-Place Match: Tahiti vs Vanuatu.
14 July 2002: The result we had to have.
Ironically, Australia's 1-0 loss to New Zealand in the Oceania Nations Cup final today should achieve a long-term benefit for the sport in this country.  It was a result that we had to have as it will place the spotlight keenly on those administrators that allowed the national team to enter this tournament as it did, with no preparation and without a first choice team.  Winning the tournament would have seen them escape such scrutiny and survive to make further tarnish the sport.  In fact, in hindsight, it probably would have been even better had the team failed against Tahiti in the semi finals, just to really ram the point home.  It's just so inexcusable that the national body could not have found some way to commit a team to the tournament much earlier than the 12 days that it did.  While they had no money to pay for airfares, committing to the tournament early would have seen many overseas players already in Australia on holiday, prepared to stay on and play in the tournament, instead of going back to Europe for pre-season training.

Regardless of how bad their financial state is, in times like these when an almost guaranteed million-dollar win-fall is on the horizon, they should have resorted to lying, cheating, stealing or killing if they had to.  It's has though they were content to lose.  Maybe that's so, for the Confederations Cup has still to receive the official go-ahead.  There's still wide-spread rejection of the tournament from the influential UEFA and it's top constituent countries.  Without even a host confirmed, Australia itself is even bidding for it.  If you're going to host the tournament, then there's hardly any point trying to qualify for it.  Maybe that's been SA's strategy all along.

The final itself, between a strong New Zealand and a weak Australia, proved absorbing with Australia surprisingly dominating the early stages.   Both teams gave nothing away with numerically strong defences, but it was Australia's quick breaks from midfield courtesy of Chipperfield that yielded the best chances of the first half.  A nice run after 9 minutes saw him set Mori free, who then crossed low into the box.  Porter, seemingly put out by the bumpy pitch, shot the ball too close to the goal keeper Batty, who still made a good save.  Not long later, Chipperfield played in Porter, whose low shot sprayed across the face of goal, which became a pseudo cross that Mori just failed to reach.  Porter then had another great chance, only for him to be nicely dispossessed as he tried to cut back inside the defender.  At the other end, NZ did nothing other than to work a few set pieces and get a couple of crosses in.  One fell nicely for Killen, but he failed to connect properly, allowing for Petkovic to gather easily.  Whilst another, which had danger written all over it after a nice overlap, was headed clear by Horvat.

Mori continued to get into space in the second half, but found is famed speed deserting him when most needed.  Maybe age is catching up with him.  His best chance came from a goal kick whereby he sneaked through two defenders only to be pulled down on the edge of the box by Zoricich.  Zoricich received a yellow for his efforts, whilst Australia hit the free kick into the wall.  NZ's goalie, Batty, was soon after replaced, as he looked to strain his groin.  For Australia, Despotovski came on for Porter, and immediately linked well with Mori to create a half chance.  They created an even better chance not long later, when Despotovski played through Mori.  Mori, however, then blasted at the goal - with the shot well saved - when a better option would have been to play the ball back to Despotovski.   Australia's lact of killer instinct, due to lack of preparation, showed.  So too did fatigue, and from this point on NZ started taking control.  However, they were still unable to create anything meaningful from open play. 

At 78 minutes, it finally all went wrong for Australia.   Chipperfield, who'd been kept quiet in the second half, received a long throw from goal keeper Petkovic, but his poor touch saw it fall towards a NZ player.  It was the action of a tired player, and when he fought back to regain possession, gave away a free kick in a good crossing position about 15 metres outside the box.  The ball was played in deep and was slammed straight into the net at close range by Nelson.  His marker, it seemed to be Constanzo, seemed lured towards the ball as it it came in, and found himself in no man's land, which gave Nelson the free run.  It was a disappointing goal to concede in all respects.  NZ then sat back, content on hitting Australia on the break.

It looked like goal number two was on offer shortly after when Aaron lines seemed to be tripped by Durakovic on the edge of the box. But the referee, who seem to favouring the defending team with all his decisions, awarded a yellow card to Lines for diving. It was a very similar incident to that of Michael Owen's penalty against Argentina in the World Cup: the foot definitely went in, and minimal contact, if any, was milked for all it was worth.  It was one of those decisions that varies depending on refereeing interpretation.

Farina's final salvo was to bring on Pondeljak and Middleby.  While Australia regained most of the possession, and with the game poised for a dramatic finale similar to the recent World Cup, the Kiwis defended in too great a numbers and repelled all Australian incursions.  Assistant coach Graham Arnold summed up the game:  "It was disappointing because we had the better chances for goal.   We warned our boys about the set pieces before the game and unfortunately that was what cost us. The boys knew who they needed to mark so it’s disappointing they scored that way.  We didn’t have much of a preparation and the games leading into it weren’t match hard so we ran out of petrol in the last 15 minutes."

New Zealand's coach iterated the impact on NZ soccer: "It's huge for New Zealand soccer," Mick Waitt said.  "I was there in 1999 (for the Confederations Cup) in Mexico and that was a fantastic experience. It's a good cash injection for the boys who negotiated a nice little deal for themselves and good on them.".

When the final whistle blew, naturally New Zealand were ecstatic, and because of their attitude towards the tournament, were deserved winners.   For Australia and its fans, the game keeps digging itself to a new nadir than one would think not possible.  Someone should be held accountable for this embarrassing impact on the game.  With failures to qualify for the World Cup and now the Confederation Cup, and despite the public reassurances that his job would be safe regardless of the ONC result, coach Farina seems the logical one to go.  But that would be unfair given the conditions he was required to work in.  The players, many of whom were dragged out of international retirement, played outstandingly well in the final, and can't be blamed either.  They were good enough and committed to the cause, but just lacked the sharpness that a decent preparation would have provided.  The people that should be accountable are those that allowed for this debacle to materialise.  And if there's no superior to sack them, then they should do the honourable thing and resign.

After the match, coach Farina aired his frustration: "Our worst fears have come true today," he said. "When you talk about this tournament and what it's worth, not just the money but the games, it's something you can't afford to take lightly.  But I think we took it too lightly in terms of our overall preparations and the efforts that went into it and I'm not talking about the players. You can't be serious when you are told 12 days before a tournament starts that you are actually going.".

Soccer Australia CEO, Greg Bates, was even more scathing: "We have the opportunity to introduce quite radical change which is being put to the board on Friday.  At that time they'll have to decide a number of things, including whether they'll have me as CEO. I'm not confident though.  People here have to accept responsibility about how we got to this position. It's not the team, it's not the IEC (who had sole marketing rights over the Socceroos until a recent out-of-court settlement ended the deal), it's ourselves," said Bates.  "Frank was given mission impossible in New Zealand. If the administration is in disarray you can not win on the field.".

Bates then confirmed that Farina's job is safe, however, he is not confident about his own because SA had not accepted the need for radical change in the past: "Change is not so much about process or how you run a competition.   It's about how people work together. It's about accepting responsibility. It's about trust. It's about openness and transparency.  It's about a willingness to work with each other not against one another and a willingness to let a professional management get on with the job.".

In this time of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, as Emperor Palpatine would say, Australia paid the price for their lack of vision.

Australia's starting line-up: Jason Petkovic, Steve Horvat, Fausto De Amicis, Mehmet Durakovic, Ante Juric, Patrick Kisnorbo,   Angelo Costanzo, Scott Chipperfield, Jade North,  Damien Mori, Joel Porter.

In the third place game, Tahiti capped off their great tournament with a 1-0 win over the much improved Vanuatu. Captain, Tetahio Auraa, scored in the 65th minute.

Australian Squad:
Goalkeepers: Dean Anastasiadis (South Melbourne), Jason Petkovic.
Defenders: Angelo Costanzo (Marconi), Steve Horvat (Melbourne Knights), Patrick Kisnorbo (South Melbourne), Fausto De Amicis (South Melbourne), Mehmet Durakovic (South Melbourne), Jade North (Olympic Sharks), Ante Juric (Olympic Sharks).
Midfielders: Tom Pondeljak (Olympic Sharks), Rob Middleby (Newcastle United), Milan Blagojevic (Newcastle United), Joel Porter (Melbourne Knights), Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel, Switzerland)
Strikers: Ante Milicic (Olympic Sharks), Paul Trimboli (South Melbourne), Damian Mori (Perth Glory), Bobby Despotovski (Perth Glory)

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