Dylan Manickum has celebrated his record-breaking 60th game for New Zealand, leading the side into the semi-finals at the OFC Futsal Nations Cup in Auckland.
New Zealand trounced Fiji 7-2 in a sometimes feisty encounter at the Bruce Pulman Arena in Takanini.
The game will be remembered for New Zealand’s fifth goal three minutes into the second half when Logan Wiesnewski, from five metres inside his own half, spotted Fijian keeper Emori Ragata off his line and guided the most audacious shot over his head and into the back of the net.
The game which had been a contest till half-time was effectively over in a three-minute period immediately after the restart when first Rohan Ali, then Wiesnewski’s incredible effort before Casey Sharplin made it 6-1. They had played a little over three minutes in the second half.
The rest of the match was a stroll for the impressive New Zealanders who scored their seventh in the 27th minute with a deft chip over Ragata from Jordan Dittfort, his second of the match.
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Main photo: Dylan Manickum (10) captained the Futsal Whites in his record-breaking 60th game. Photo credit: OFC / Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
Fiji did manage a late consolation strike from Tevita Waranaivalu, but the damage had well and truly been done.
The match had started with both sides having early chances to open the scoring before New Zealand took the lead from a corner with Ethan Martin scoring at the near post and four minutes later, Dave Radrigai slicing into his own net from a corner.
New Zealand withstood a flurry of shots from Fiji with Ramzan Khan and Setareki Hughes keeping Mike Antamanov on his toes before The Futsal Whites caught Fiji on the break and Jordan Dittfort guided the ball into the net at the far post in the 12th minute for New Zealand’s third goal.
The Fijians pulled a goal back with a brilliant strike from Khan less than a minute later.
The result sees New Zealand all but assured of topping Group A with one game remaining against Tonga, while Fiji and Vanuatu will square off on Wednesday for the second spot in the Group.
Acknowledgement: Match report provided by OFC Media.
Post-match interviews
Tahiti’s Tetuanui Tinomoe and New Zealand’s Player of the Match Jordi Ditfort were interviewed after the game by OFC Media:
Watch the match
Results
Games played on Monday October 2, 2023
Group A
New Zealand 7 (Ethan Martin 7’, own goal 11’, Jordan Ditfort 12’, 27’, Rahan Ali 22’, Logan Wisnewski 23′, Casey Sharplin 24′)
Fiji 2 (Ramzan Khan 13’, Tevita Waranaivalu 39’)
Tonga 2 (Hemaloto Polovili 29’, Christopher Kefu 34′)
Vanuatu 20 (Kevin Donald 1′ 15′, Jayson Timatua 10′ 34′ 37′ 39′, Sandy Mesau 17′ 34′, Steve Nona 17′ pen 39′, Michel Coulon 22′, 33′, 40′, own goal 24′, Martin Gete 28′, 30′, George Mahit 31′, 32′ 36′, Kemly Lehi 35′)
Group B
Samoa 2 (Michael Tumua Leo 15′, Tavita To’o 40′)
New Caledonia 7 (Nicolas Foubert 5′ 34′, Emmanuel Hmaen 11′, Christ Pei 17′, Andrew Ponidja 27′ 39′, Rémi Boussemart 31′)
Solomon Islands 5 (own goal 4’, Micah Lea’alafa 18’, Calvin Do’oro 29’, 32’, Elis Mana 39’)
Tahiti 5 (Michel Maihuri 24’, Vincent Tinomoe 25’, 33’, Tetuanui Tinomoe 35’, 37’)
OFC Futsal Nations Cup
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