Tahiti Go Close To Oceania Nations Cup Shock by Jeremy Ruane Tahiti handed Oceania Nations Cup tournament favourites Australia the fright of their footballing lives at Ericsson Stadium on July 12, holding onto a 1-0 lead over the cup holders for all but the last two minutes of their semi-final encounter, which the Socceroos eventually won 2-1, thanks to a "Golden Goal" seven minutes into extra time. Australia fielded a side without four of their first-choice regulars, and to be perfectly blunt, their performance gave the impression that all they had to do to make Sunday’s final was turn up this evening and victory was assured. Understandably, Tahiti had their own ideas on this subject, and duly tore up Australia’s script and imposed their own on proceedings, something the Socceroos simply weren’t expecting. They almost paid the ultimate penalty as a result. Tom Pondeljak fluffed the game’s first chance, shooting tamely following a delightfully angled Scott Chipperfield cross from the byline in the sixteenth minute, after which Bobby Despotovski directed a header straight at Tahitian goalkeeper Xavier Samin. Tahiti responded with strong claims for a penalty being turned down by referee Derek Rugg in the 28th minute, after Mehmed Durakovic muscled Felix Tagawa off the ball. But they were celebrating ten minutes later, when four Australian defenders stood and watched a Naea Bennett cross from the right career across goal. Such was Tava Zaveroni’s disbelief at his good fortune, he miskicked his shot. It mattered not, however, the ball spinning into the net by Jason Petkovic’s left-hand post to open the scoring seven minutes before half-time. The Socceroos were shell-shocked, and copped a right rev-up from coach Frank Farina during the interval for their efforts. Their second half showing was far more purposeful, with Samin forced to save from both Joel Porter and Chipperfield before the hour mark. Tahiti were defending like trojans, however, and restricted the Socceroos to just two further noteworthy efforts on goal in the next twenty-five minutes, both of which were blocked. Pondeljak and Porter were the frustrated parties, Sylvain Booene and Harry Tong Sang the defenders who stood their ground when the pressure was on. The game appeared up for Australia with three minutes remaining, as Samin saved Damian Mori’s header, but within sixty seconds, the cup holders secured a lifeline. Paul Trimboli touched a free-kick to Mori, who let fly from thirty yards. Samin parried it, but Porter was onto the rebound in an flash, edging out Durakovic to poke home the equaliser with just two minutes remaining. Pondeljak fired wide in the remaining minutes of normal time, while it was one-way traffic from the first whistle of extra-time, as the Socceroos looked to make the most of the life Porter had secured them. Mori’s superb header, from a Robbie Middleby cross, was matched by the save produced by the flying figure of Samin, who leapt high to his left to keep Tahiti in the hunt. Mori then slid a shot narrowly wide, following Porter’s adventurous run across field from the right. The second half substitute was involved in a slick move with Angelo Costanzo, which led to a sharp one-two with Chipperfield, before Porter let fly with a 96th minute effort which Samin tipped to safety. Porter took the resulting corner, delivering it to the near post for Mori. His stooping header arrowed into the bottom corner of the net to bring to an end a match in which the gallant Tahitians, for whom this was a moral victory, deserved better fortune against tournament favourites who retained that ranking by the skin of their teeth!! Australia:         Petkovic; Durakovic, Juric, North; Pondeljak (booked, 67), Chipperfield, Blagojevic (Trimboli, 66), Costanzo (booked, 82), de Amicis (Middleby, 52); Mori, Despotovski (Porter, 52) Tahiti:         Samin; Tchen (booked, 50) (Senechal, 63), Booene, Sang; Zaveroni, Terevarua, Auraa, Garcia, Fatupua-Lecaill; Bennett, Tagawa (booked, 54) (Wajoka, 93) Referee:    Derek Rugg (New Zealand)