2002 World Cup - New Zealand 0 Australia 2
First Published: Jun 20, 2001Australia have taken control of their Oceania World Cup qualifying play-off with a 2-0 win in Wellington.
The Australians now host the weekend decider against New Zealand with the winning team going through to face the fifth placed finishers in the South America qualifying table in a November play-off for the final place at the 2002 World Cup finals in Korea and Japan.
New Zealand keeper Jason Batty fluffed an 82nd minute clearance to striker Brett Emerson headed the ball into an empty net to seal Australia's win.
Emerson had given the visitors an excellent start in only the fith minute when he reached Stan Lazaridis cross from the left and ran past two New
Australian substitute midfielder Danny Tiatto was red carded for a violent tackle that felled his Manchester City team mate Chris Killen.
The second leg and decisive game will be played in Sydney on June 24th .
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