Fiji upset the formbook by downing a decidedly under-strength New Zealand selection 2-0 at Lautoka’s Churchill Park on 19 November, thereby preventing the All Whites from completing their OFC Nations Cup campaign with a perfect six from six record. Second half goals from Roy Krishna shattered the hopes of Ricki Herbert’s charges, five of whom made their debuts at senior international level in this match, one which Fiji seems to have been fated to win from the outset. This was the match which was postponed over a year ago, following the New Zealand government’s refusal, at the time, to issue a visa to a Fijian goalkeeper. That move rightly or wrongly cost NZ Football a small fortune, particularly as they were ultimately forced to forfeit home advantage for the fixture. Meantime, the All Whites won all five of their Nations Cup fixtures to clinch the trophy, rendering this rearranged fixture of academic value only. With this and NZ Football’s financial state in mind, Herbert opted to select an entirely Kiwi-based squad for the match. Throw in the fact they were on the road for this encounter, and it was an extremely vulnerable All Whites line-up which faced a Fijian combination itching for the chance to knock Oceania’s foremost footballing nation off their perch. Initially, the Kiwi combination threatened to run riot, with the Jeremys - Brockie and Christie - both sending the ball over the bar inside the first ten minutes. Steven Old and debutant Greg Draper both hit the woodwork for the visitors in the next quarter hour as the All Whites continued to impress. Fiji fired a warning shot across their opponent’s bows in the twentieth minute, when Krishna forced a good save from Glen Moss, but it was New Zealand who held the upper hand throughout the first forty-five minutes, Leo Bertos going closest to breaking the deadlock with a viciously struck free-kick just after the half-hour mark. Buoyed on by over 3000 fans, the home team

emerged a much hungrier team for the second half, and were quickly in the ascendancy. Their prospects of victory sky-rocketed on the hour, when All Whites’ goalkeeper, Glen Moss, was sent off by Vanuatu referee Lencie Fred for dissent, after he protested in vain about the lack of treatment afforded injured team-mate James Pritchett. The first task his replacement, Jacob Spoonley, was entrusted with was to fish the ball out of his net, Krishna having thrashed what was the 1000th goal New Zealand has conceded in all senior level international fixtures past a player whose required presence saw fellow debutant Draper sacrificed for the cause. The All Whites took a while to adjust to their new circumstances, all the while conscious of the threat posed by Krishna’s pace which could very easily take the game further away from them as they chased it in the final half-hour. And after newcomer Kris Bright had directed a header over the bar inside the final quarter hour, that pace proved the All Whites’ undoing, Krishna clinching just the second victory Fiji has ever recorded over New Zealand at senior level with a stoppage time strike to clinch a famous 2-0 win for Juan Carlos Buzzetti’s team. The All Whites can console themselves with the fact that they have far bigger fish to fry in the coming months, with three of the OFC Nations Cup holders’ future opponents to be determined this weekend when the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Finals draw takes place in South Africa. But this was Fiji’s night, and you can guarantee they will celebrate just their fifth win over New Zealand at all levels long and loud. Fiji: Tamanisau; Naqeleca, Lamailepanoni, Singh, Tuiau, Senibiaukula, Vakatalesau (Manuca, 77), Krishna, Kumar (booked, 40), Tiwa, Keinahewe (Vono, 46) All Whites: Moss (sent off, 59); Pritchett, Sigmund, Old, Christie; Mulligan, Peverly, Bertos; Brockie, Draper (Spoonley, 59), Barbarouses (Bright, 68) Referee: Lencie Fred (Vanuatu)