The All Whites saw off Vanuatu 4-0 in front of a full house at Port Vila's Freshwater Stadium on June 21 to finish top of their OFC Nations Cup group ahead of semi-final action in the competition. The locals gave their highly fancied opponents a genuine scare in the second minute of this contest, Bong Kalo and Johnathan Spokeyjack combining on the left, with the latter turning and bursting between two opponents before threading a pass through to Alex Saniel. His fierce drive drew a fine parried save at his near post by Max Crocombe. Heeding the warning, the All Whites responded straight away, Cameron Howieson's ball over the top seeing Ben Old latch onto it and attempt a flicked finish which was initially spilled then gathered by Dgen Leo. Vanuatu's goalkeeper was beaten all ends up in the tenth minute as Darren Bazeley's charges took the lead. Elijah Just and Liberato Cacace worked a one-two on the left which saw the winger clip a cross to the far post. Arriving on cue was Max Mata, who directed a thumping header across Leo and into the opposite corner of the net - 1-0. Only a fine piece of defending by Timothy Boulet prevented Old from doubling the All Whites' lead five minutes later, following a slick move in which Just, Mata and Costa Barbarouses all contributed. Back came the host nation, Boulet releasing Spokeyjack down the right this time. He played the ball inside to Saniel, who held it up well before inviting Godine Tenene to let fly. Tyler Bindon blocked his shot to safety. After Leo had saved at the feet of Mata, the striker having swooped on an under-struck back-pass, the All Whites doubled their lead in the 26th minute. Alex Rufer and Howieson teamed up with Just, who threaded the ball through to Old. His shot was parried by Leo, but Mata was following in, his acute-angled shot ricocheting into the net off Brian Kaltak - an "oggie". The tournament favourites were only an offside flag away from being out of sight on the half-hour, Barbarouses being denied the goal, while soon after Surman saw his header blocked by Jason Thomas following a Just corner. Six minutes before half-time, Vanuatu produced their most enterprising attack of the first half, with Kaltak charging out of defence before feeding Kalo. He worked a one-two with early substitute Kerry Iawak, only to see his resulting shot blocked by Surman. Encouraged by this raid, Kaltak looked to repeat the dose three minutes later, but this time ran into trouble in the form of Barbarouses. He swiftly sent Just into yards of space on the right, from where he delivered a cross to the near post for Mata. Leo somehow tipped his close-range shot onto the bar, and the striker was unable to capitalise on the rebound. Instead, the ball ended up in Leo's gloves, and he threw it out to Kaltak. Vanuatu's captain this time decided to make the ball do the work via a raking

ball forward to Spokeyjack - such an unusual and eye-catching surname for a footballer! He got in behind the All Whites defence, only to be denied by Crocombe blocking at his feet. The ball wasn't cleared, however, allowing Vanuatu to try again, this time via John Alick, whose twenty-five yarder was directed straight at Crocombe, by now back on station twixt the sticks. The second half saw Vanuatu striving for a way back into the contest, but they found every avenue being blocked by those wearing the all-white kit. New Zealand seemed quite content to keep their opponents at bay while playing well within themselves, but every once in a while they flexed their attacking muscles to remind their rivals who's boss. Witness the 61st minute raid which saw Bindon, Surman and Rufer combine to open up Vanuatu's defence, the door being slammed shut on Barbarouses in the act of shooting by Thomas' timely tackle. Two minutes later, however, the game was up for the host nation, much to the dismay of the local faithful. Just pounced on a stray clearance and sent a twenty-five yard rocket flying into the far corner of the net, the ball bouncing in front of the diving figure of Leo, making his attempt to save it nigh on impossible. Vanuatu heads dropped after the third goal, and they turned their attention towards their semi-final obligations - both the All Whites and Vanuatu had already qualified for the last four prior to this group fixture. The All Whites weren't content with three goals, however. Just sent a fifteen yard volley flashing over the bar after Leo punched a cross from Old straight to the winger in the 65th minute. Four minutes later, Barbarouses released the overlapping Tim Payne down the right, from where he delivered a first-time cross into the goalmouth. Alex Greive was arriving on cue and opted for a deft back-heeled finish, which nutmegged Leo. Fortunately for the 'keeper, the ball struck his trailing leg, otherwise the All Whites would have been celebrating a fourth goal. That's what they were doing thirteen minutes from time, however, wrapping up another solid win with another fine attack. Howieson spotted Just's run through the inside left channel and weighted his pass over the top to perfection, the winger matching the pass with his own deft touch inside to Old, whose low drive arrowed past Leo and into the net by the far post to wrap up this 4-0 win in style. Vanuatu:     Leo; Boulet (Iawak, 35), Thomas, Kaltak, Coulon; Spokeyjack (Wohale, 87), Clark, Alick, Tenene; Kalo (Moses, 87), Saniel (Tangis, 33) All Whites:     Crocombe; Payne, Bindon (booked, 57 (Kelly-Heald, 73), Surman (booked, 23 (Smith, 73)), Cacace; Just, Rufer (booked, 90), Howieson, Old (Randall, 83); Barbarouses (Van Hattum, 83), Mata (Greive, 58) Referee:     Veer Singh (Fiji)