AUSTRALIA will take a handy advantage into Sunday's second leg Oceania World Cup Qualifier, after defeating NEW ZEALAND 2-0 in Wellington in the first leg tonight.
A goal in each half to midfielder BRETT EMERTON sealed the valuable away win for the LG Socceroos, however the victory was marred by the second half send-off of replacement DANNY TIATTO.
Tiatto earned the straight red card in the 85th minute for a tackle on New Zealand striker Chris Killen, however the result was already in the bag when Australia was reduced to 10-men.
The LG Socceroos took the lead in the 6th minute, Josip Skoko laying off a through ball to Stan Lazaridis, whose cross found Emerton in front of goal, a clinical finish putting the ball into the back of the net.
New Zealand's best chance of the first half was in the 30th minute when striker Vaughan Coveny broke through the defence and lined up for goal, only to have defender Tony Vidmar put in a shot-stopping tackle, the ball away for a corner.
The home side came out firing in the second half, with two shots on goal in the opening three minutes, while goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was forced into a diving save, deflecting the ball away in the 80th minute.
The first leg was wrapped up on a defensive error by the New Zealanders just two minutes later however, goalkeeper Jason Batty attempting to clear the ball, and instead finding Brett Emerton, who neatly headed the ball into the vacant goal for Australia's second of the evening.
With the valuable 2-0 away-from-home result to take into Sunday's second leg, Australia's night was further made with the release of the latest FIFA Australia's night was further made with the release of the latest FIFA rankings.
The LG Socceroos have moved up 18 spots to #50 in the world, earning Australia the title of "Best Mover of the Month" and also giving Australia the lead in the battle for the "Best Mover of the Year" title.
It's the first time Australia has returned to the Top 50 since February 1999, with the next FIFA World rankings due to be published July 18.
FRANK FARINA - Post Match Interview:
Q : Frank, were you happy with the scoreline?
A : More than happy. Before the game, if you'd told me we were going to
win 2-0, I would have been doing cart-wheels and jumping around, so
to come away from home and win 2-0, I'm very pleased.
Q : Were you also pleased with the overall performance of the team?
A : In areas, yes. I don't think we performed as well as we can, but
this was a tough tie, it's like a derby against New Zealand, and you
can't always play attractive football. They made it very difficult
for us, and in general, I was happy with most parts of the game.
Q : When Brett Emerton scored so early in the game, did you at any point
think the match might turn into a walk-over?
A : No, I think we started very well, and we got the early goal, and sometimes
the goals can come a bit too early as well, although they're never early
enough for me. I honestly never believed it was going to be dead and buried
in this tie, that would have been dreaming a little bit, but I at no
stage thought it was going to be a walk-over. 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline
- if the other team gets a goal early, it's all wide open again, so we're
going to be hoping in Sydney we can get an early goal and hold them out,
but it's definitely not dead and buried.
Q : The second half changes that you made to the team were all attacking ones
- were they made with the intention of more goals?
A : I think that's where we were looking, we were trying to go forward as
much as we could, and keep pressure on them in terms of closing the ball
down, and at the back we were looking solid, and there was not really
any need to make a change there.
Q : The Danny Tiatto send-off would have to be very disappointing for you?
A : Yes, I think for the lad as well, but I think it also looked a lot worse,
because of the way he lunged in, but that's Danny's style, he always goes
in hard, it's just unfortunate he got a straight red for it.
Q : Finally Frank, what can the public expect in Sydney on Sunday?,
A : A very attacking Australian outfit, like we always are, we try to
play football, and that won't change on Sunday.