Tahiti upsets New Zealand in U20 playoff December 16, 2008
Host nation Tahiti recorded the biggest upset of the 2008 Oceania Football Confederation U20 playoff when it beat favorites and group leaders New Zealand 2-1 at Stade Mahina in the second day’s play tonight.
The win puts them level on four points with fellow French colony nation New Caledonia who outclassed Fiji 3-0 in another fixture of the day.
The Kiwis fielded the same team that beat Fiji in the opening match on Sunday and started the first half with a bang putting the hosts under pressure from the opening whistle.
All Whites and Wellington phoenix striker Costa Barbarouses opened the scoring in the 23rd minute of the first spell neatly beating the Tahiti Nui defence and placing the ball into the back of the net.
Fijian referee Rakesh Varman who controlled the tense affair sent off New Zealand midfielder Adam McGeorge for dangerous play in the 44th minute.
New Zealand led 1-0 at the breather and entered the second spell one man short.
Backed by vocal support from the stands and a lot of motivation at halftime by coach Lionel Charbonnier, Tahiti entered the second spell with a lot of confidence and determination and managed to find their equalizer in the 66th minute through hardworking Garry Rochette.
With just a minute remaining on the clock, Ariihau Teriitau struck the decisive goal of the match which sent the Tahiti fans into frenzy and handed them one of their most famous win over the Kiwis.
Stu Jacob’s men now have a mammoth task against group leaders New Caledonia in its last match on Thursday while Tahiti will play Fiji who have already bowed out of the playoff after two consecutive losses.
NZL: 1.Rhyss KEANE; 2. Tim MYERS; 3. Ian HOGG (C); 5. Sam CAMPBELL; 6. Michael EAGER; 7. Costa BARBAROUSES; 8. Adam MCGEORGE; 9. Greg DRAPER; 12. Cory CHETTLEBURGH; 14. Jonathan RAJ; 17. Jake MATHEWS.
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