SYDNEY, July 6: Australia mopped up New Zealand 2-0 in their second leg World Cup Oceania football

qualifier here today to advance to the final elimination phase for next year's finals In France, reports AFP.

The Australians, under former England manager. Terry Venables, won the first leg 3-0 in Auckland last Saturday to finish the home-and-away series 5-0 winners on aggregate.

Australia will now play the fourth-placed Asian team in the final regional eliminator in November for a place in France.

It was the 11th win in 11 matches for Venables since taking charge of the Australian team.

Auxerre midfielder Ned Zelic got Australia off to a rousing start with a rocket 22-metre volley past New Zealand goalkeeper Jason Batty in the sixth minute, but the expected goalavalanche did not eventuate on a drizzling evening after the original leg had been washed out on Saturdav.

Australia spurned several scoring chances, most notably Cremonese striker John Alois!, who had three chances to score in the first-half.

It took Australia until the 54th minute to score again through 33-year-old Hiroshima Sanfrecce forward Graham Arnold, who lobbed over Batty after a deep kick had eluded two New Zealand defenders.

The Kiwis, who went into the match weakened by the loss of their world class star Wynton Rufer, fellow striker Vaughan Coveny and suspended midfielder Chris Jackson, battled well and continued to take the game to Australia although they were on a lost cause.

Australia lost Glasgow Rangers defender Craig Moore in the 31st minute with an aggravation of a rib injury he incurred in the Auckland tie.

Moore also received a yellow card for a crude 17th minute challenge on Nik Viljoen.

Zelic was the pick of the Australians with his passing and running from the midfield, while Arnold Atoned for his sloppy finishing in Auckland to score Australia's second and ran himself into the ground before he was substituted by Venables with 11 minutes left along with Alois!.

Aston Villa goalkeeoer Mark Bosnich had not Bothered throughout the match while West Ham United winger Stand Lazaridis stretched the Kiwi defence with his pace.

The eight overseas-based socceroos leave for their European clubs over the next few days.