Football HQ

All Whites defeat Fiji to advance in World Cup qualifying video LIAM HYSLOP Last updated 09:06, March 29 2017 10 0:06 / 0:30 SKY SPORTAll Whites through to next stage of qualifying Sky Sport The All Whites beat Fiji 2-0 in Wellington to advance to the Oceania final qualifier for the 2018 World Cup. Ryan Thomas' first two international goals have sent the All Whites through to the next stage of World Cup qualifying. The midfielder scored midway through either half as New Zealand beat Fiji 2-0 at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Tuesday. It was a match the All Whites should have won by more, but a lack of quality with their final ball let them down. All White Ryan Thomas celebrates one of his two goals against Fiji. MARTY MELVILLE/PHOTOSPORT All White Ryan Thomas celebrates one of his two goals against Fiji. They relied heavily on getting the ball out wide for their wing backs to whip crosses in, but only two really found their mark as Tommy Smith rattled the crossbar in the first half and Thomas scored with his head in the 68th minute. READ MORE: * Key's cheeky All Whites prediction * Durante happy to compete for spot * NZ epic: 4-4, 6-6 - shootout * All Whites to finish in style 0:00 / 0:51 NZN VIDEO All Whites coach Anthony Hudson believes the team has improved a lot in the last year, delivering quality football in the tie with Fiji. The few times they did attack down the middle they produced good chances. Clayton Lewis forced a good save from Fiji goalkeeper Beniamino Mateinaqara early in the first half, before Thomas received a layoff from Shane Smeltz in the 27th minute, which he slotted with a great first-time finish to the bottom-left corner. All Whites coach Anthony Hudson said it was a case of Fiji putting a lot of bodies behind the ball. Ryan Thomas fires the All Whites ahead against Fiji on Tuesday. MARK TANTRUM/PHOTOSPORT Ryan Thomas fires the All Whites ahead against Fiji on Tuesday. "Whenever we tried to play through them or put a cross in there was a load of bodies in there, so I think if you play against bigger teams they come out a bit more. Ad Feedback "Over the two games it's been difficult to really carve them open. The key for us was to be patient over both legs and really the key was to try and control the game in possession, but it's like every tour we go on. "It's not like we get on tour and just look at what we're good at, every time we get together we always want to improve what we're doing and definitely in the final third it's an area we want to keep tweaking and finding solutions for, but there were several opportunities where we could have scored some very good goals. Ryan Thomas celebrates his goal agianst Fiji with All Whites team-mates Shane Smeltz (right) and Tom Doyle. MARK TANTRUM/PHOTOSPORT Ryan Thomas celebrates his goal agianst Fiji with All Whites team-mates Shane Smeltz (right) and Tom Doyle. "There were some very good moves, especially in the first half were Ryan was involved in one of them, so I think they're unlucky tonight to not get a few more." Thomas would've been a deserved man of the match for his two great finishes, although he admitted after the game even he was surprised he managed to bag a brace. "I don't score two goals very often in a game. I was pleased to get my first and then grab a second after what was a great move. All Whites defender Tommy Smith puts in a header against Fiji on Tuesday. Grant Down / photosport.nz All Whites defender Tommy Smith puts in a header against Fiji on Tuesday. "That was good and the way we controlled the game from start to finish was quality, over the two legs it was very professional performance." Aside from the final third, New Zealand were dominant in all other aspects of the game. Their passing leading up to the final third was excellent, allowing Thomas and fellow central midfielder Lewis to receive the ball high up the pitch, especially in the first half. Roy Krishna of Fiji takes a shot on Tuesday. HAGEN HOPKINS/GETTY IMAGES Roy Krishna of Fiji takes a shot on Tuesday. That allowed them to link well with either the attacking duo of Marco Rojas and Smeltz, or play wide to marauding wing backs Dane Ingham and Doyle. But that was normally where the play broke down as the big Fijian backline dealt with most of the crosses well. The 17-year-old, Australian-born Ingham was on debut, and shared a special moment with his older brother, Jai, when the latter came off the bench in the second half to also make his All Whites debut. They qualify for New Zealand through their Kiwi mother, who was at the game. At the other end, Fiji offered very little. Wellington Phoenix striker Roy Krishna tried his best to spark something, but was a lone ranger for most of the night. New Zealand centre backs Smith, Andrew Durante and Michael Boxall defended well, as did their team-mates ahead of them as they pressed Fiji high up the field, causing the visitors to make countless mistakes in possession. Smeltz, who started the match after captain Chris Wood returned to the United Kingdom early due to injury, had a goal ruled out late for offside after Mateinaqara spilled an innocuous cross into his path. That summed up New Zealand's two matches against Fiji, including the 2-0 win in Lautoka on Saturday, where they got the job done, but could have been a lot better in front of goal, especially in their home conditions where a crowd of 10,133 cheered them on. For Hudson, he was happy with the progression his team had shown. "Overall, really, really pleasing, it's been a good solid tour for us and one we can build on. "It's a big, big progression from where we were last year when we played against the Oceania teams. We were a lot better with the ball, a lot more dominant in possession and the work ethic of the team has been very good across both games." New Zealand have won group A of the third stage of Oceania World Cup Qualifying with Tuesday's win. Stage four will see them play the winner of group B, which Tahiti currently leads ahead of their crucial match against Papua New Guinea on Wednesday (NZ time). New Zealand 2 (Ryan Thomas 27' 68') Fiji 0. HT: 1-0. - Stuff Save|Saved Stories Next NZ Teams story:Recap: All Whites v Fiji - Fifa World Cup qualifyingSport Homepage promoted stories British Expats: Discover How the UK Pension Reform Affects You British Expats: Discover How the UK Pension Reform Affects You Abbey Wealth Baseball's 25 Most Underrated Players Baseball's 25 Most Underrated Players PointAfter | By Graphiq See What a Million Dollars Can Get Your Around the World See What a Million Dollars Can Get Your Around the World Mansion Global by Dow Jones Male Pattern Baldness Study Uncovers Potential Genetic Predictors Male Pattern Baldness Study Uncovers Potential Genetic Predictors GenomeWeb Recommended by promoted stories A Peek at a New Superyacht With Its Own Private Beach A Peek at a New Superyacht With Its Own Private Beach Mansion Global The Babbel Challenge: Learn A Language In 3 Weeks! The Babbel Challenge: Learn A Language In 3 Weeks! Babbel Diagnostics Lifts LabCorp Q4 Revenues 6 Percent Diagnostics Lifts LabCorp Q4 Revenues 6 Percent 360dx.com Hollywood Celebrities With Famous Parents Hollywood Celebrities With Famous Parents PrettyFamous | By Graphiq Recommended by Comments Login or Join to post a comment Post Read Stuff's rules for comments 2 hours ago AllFact C'mon it was Fiji, and to me we struggled on attack. We should beat a team like Fiji 5-0. Reply0 2 hours ago Sad irish moaner way to put away Fiji. Awesome. woohoo. the soccer world will sit up and take note Reply-1 3 hours ago Niggly a good performance against a packed defensive minded team Reply+3 3 hours ago soothsayer 007 I see you could of still got a ticket even at the last minute-how embarrassing. Reply-13 3 hours ago Tony B I don't think the rest of the world are panicking ? Reply-11 6 hours ago daveyboy3 Should have been 5-0. Can't understand how Phoenix didn't manage to retain Boxall, he's so strong and always gives 100%. Reply+7 11 hours ago NZWolf Good win. Strange seeing Fiji play with 10 defenders most of the second half. Reply1 reply+11 2 hours ago jusstirin is Herbert their coach? Reply+8 11 hours ago Mr Honest Best NZ performance I've seen in years Reply-4 12 hours ago Jimmy Russell Too easy, missing our top players and still basically a training run for the boys. Totally dominant. Our defence again was superb, still not a single goal conceded from open play, not even during the OFC Cup. Thought Dane Ingham and Thomas were excellent. Really looking forward to a full strength squad at the Confeds - can't wait. Reply1 reply+17 5 hours ago GWM I bet Portugal are shaking in their boots. Reply-8 sport headlines Rain to deny Black Caps video Plot to steal Ferrari's body foiled Four questions for the All Whites video Hudson: 'Big, big progress' video Fergie's inspiring letter to Fury Taupau vows to keep aggressive style India crush Australia video Kohli's terse parting shot video Titans skipper cleared to face Warriors Code-hopping Ingham in positive mood May the Force be with us Messi banned for four matches Ugly win for Socceroos Kick off Recap: All Whites v Fiji Ad Feedback most popular viewedsharedcommented Motorists say Kapiti Expressway has made commute into Wellington twice as long Cyclone Debbie leaves a trail of destruction in north Queensland It's June 2018, this is what life is like without Facebook Will Smith's bittersweet reunion with Fresh Prince of Bel Air co-stars Morning trivia quiz: March 29 Murray Ball's Alzheimer's battle: Pam Ball speaks about beloved author's long goodbye Poorest households 'worst off' if New Zealand shifts en masse to solar Gloriavale: Nine questions we can answer, and one we can't Police urge careful driving after minor crashes around Wellington during morning fog Children's exposure to lead linked to lower IQs, Dunedin Study finds Ad Feedback NationalWorldBusinessTechnologySportEntertainmentLife & StyleTravelMotoring Stuff.co.nz About Us | Contact Us | View Mobile Site Subscribe Text | Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Newspapers | Magazine subscriptions | RSS - Top Stories Services Stuff Fibre | Newspapers in Education | Advertising | Careers Classifieds Death Notices | Celebrations | Newspaper Classifieds Newspapers Dominion Post | The Press | Waikato Times | Auckland Now | Sunday News | Sunday Star-Times Marlborough Express | Manawatu Standard | Nelson Mail | Southland Times | Taranaki Daily News | Timaru Herald Other Sites Indexed | Essential Mums | Cuisine | NZ House & Garden | NZ Fishing News | NZ Life & Leisure | NZ Gardener | Fairfax Archives Breaking news? Send us your photos, videos and tip-offs: Emailnewstips@stuff.co.nz Phone0800 697 8833 © 2017 Fairfax New Zealand Limited Privacy | Terms and Conditions