Hudson takes the win and moves on
WHEN you are playing in front of your home crowd for the first time in more than two years, you take the win and move on.
That about summed up the mood of All Whites coach Anthony Hudson after a Marco Rojas brace secured a deserved 2-0 victory over New Caledonia at North Harbour Stadium yesterday.
The Melbourne Victory star scored in either half of the World Cup qualifier, ensuring a little more than 8000 Kiwi fans left happy and New Zealand headed into the return leg of the Oceania third round tie in Kone on Tuesday with the upper hand.
While the scoreline was perhaps not as convincing as some had predicted after impressive displays against Mexico (2-1 loss) and the USA (1-1 draw) last month, Hudson was all smiles after the match.
‘‘A solid win, and a good start to our qualification campaign,’’ he said. ‘‘I didn’t really feel we were under pressure at any stage. There were a couple moments where they caused us problems but as the game wore on we got stronger.
‘‘I know we’ve got a load more in us, which is good. We on 2-0 and know we’ve got more in us. Overall I’m very pleased.’’
As was Rojas after capitalising on two miscues from striker, stand-in skipper and standout performer Chris Wood to provide the goals in what was a somewhat mixed All Whites display.
The hosts were on the front foot early but often preferred a direct and high line to lofty Leeds GETTY IMAGES front-man Wood in the first spell, an approach New Caledonia safely negated until just a few minutes before halftime.
After Wood and Barbarouses had rattled shots back off the right post, Rojas jinked past a couple of defenders and then jumped on a Wood fumble, the shot partially blocked by Les Cagous goalkeeper Thomas Schmidt before spinning into the net.
New Caledonia were lively fol- lowing the restart, French league two striker Cesar Zeoula sending a free header narrowly over the crossbar and creating several more problems for the Kiwi defence.
But the equaliser never came and 27 minutes into the half Rojas effectively wrapped up the three points for his side.
Substitute Monty Patterson provided the cross and when Wood fluffed an attempted back heel at goal from close range, Rojas was at the back post to tap the ball in.
New Zealand could and probably should have extended the margin as they created a handful of chances with the game opening up in the final 20 minutes, a tireless Wood particularly unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet.
But neither that or the up and down performance affected the satisfaction of Hudson, who said the nature of how long it had been since the All Whites last played at home had an impact on his players.