2000 OFC Nations Cup Final

2000 OFC Nations Cup Final
Event 2000 OFC Nations Cup
Date June 28, 2000
Venue Stade Pater, Papeete
Referee Harry Attison

The 2000 OFC Nations Cup Final was an association football match between Australia and New Zealand at Stade Pater in Papeete, Tahiti on 28 June 2000. It was the Australia's third OFC Nations Cup win.

Route to the final

Australia

As finalists in the 1998 OFC Nations Cup, and the OFC's top-ranked side, the "Socceroos" were given entry straight into the tournament finals. They progressed comfortably through the group stage, accounting for Cook Islands and Solomon Islands comfortably 17-0 and 6-0 respectively. In the semi-final, they played Vanuatu, winning 1-0 in a match that was closer than expected. Australia's Clayton Zane was the tournament's top scorer going into the final, with 5 goals.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Australia2200230+236
 Solomon Islands210157-23
 Cook Islands2002122-210

New Zealand

Like Australia, New Zealand were given direct entry into the tournament finals, as 1998 OFC Nations Cup champions and the OFC's second ranked side. They beat both Tahiti and Vanuatu by 2 goals to progress from the group stage. In the semi-finals, they played Solomon Islands and won 2-0 to move through to the final.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 New Zealand220051+46
 Vanuatu210145-13
 Tahiti200225-30

Knockout Rounds

Semi-finals Final
25 June
  Australia 1  
  Vanuatu 0  
 
28 June
      Australia 2
    New Zealand 0
25 June
  Solomon Islands 0
  New Zealand 2  

Pre-match

Analysis

Despite New Zealand having won the 1998 OFC Nations Cup final, Australia went into the game as favourites, ranked 15 spots ahead of New Zealand in FIFA World Rankings.

Match

First half

Australia was the better side for much of the match, although New Zealand did create some chances. Australia took the lead 5 minutes from half time, as Shaun Murphy scored off a Stan Lazaridis corner.

Second half

Australia's ascendency continued, and when Danny Tiatto's cross was finished by Craig Foster midway through the second half, the result was all but secured for Australia.

Match details

28 June 2000
18:00
Australia  2 – 0  New Zealand
Shaun Murphy  40'
Craig Foster  66'
(Report)
Stade Pater, Papeete
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Harry Attison
a green shirt with gold trim, green shorts, and green socks
Australia
a white shirt with black trim, black shorts, and white socks
New Zealand
Australia
AUSTRALIA:
GK 1 Zeljko Kalac
DF 2 Kevin Muscat
DF 3 Shaun Murphy  40'
DF 5 Tony Popovic
DF 7 Danny Tiatto
MF 8 Stan Lazaridis
MF 4 Paul Okon
MF 6 Craig Foster  66'  80'
MF 10 Brett Emerton
FW 9 David Zdrillic
FW 11 Paul Agostino  80'
Substitutes:
MF 13 Aurelio Vidmar  80'
FW 15 Clayton Zane  80'
Manager:
Frank Farina
New Zealand
NEW ZEALAND:
GK 1 Jason Batty
DF 6 Che Bunce
DF 5 Sean Douglas
DF 13 Jonathan Perry
DF 12 Gavin Wilkinson  70'
MF 10 Simon Elliott
MF 16 Chris Killen
MF 11 Chris Jackson
MF 9 Mark Atkinson  77'
FW 17 Kris Bouckenooghe
FW 4 Scott Smith
Substitutes:
MF 20 Raf de Gregorio  70'
FW 19 Paul Urlovic  77'
Manager:
Ken Dugdale

Post match

Australia's win qualified them for the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, and was their third OFC Nations Cup win their first since 1996.

External links

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