To see the fans at the MCG tonight..

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The Socceroo midfielder, playing his first game for a couple of months, said after the game the Australians expected the All-Whites to play  the long-ball game.

But he felt the Socceroos quality eventually shone through as a second half equaliser from Dario Vidosic put the Kiwis on the back foot.

And this goal was backed up by a winner with virtually the last kick of the game to Brett Holman.

"New Zealand are a very good team. We knew they'd play the long ball game, which they did. They've got some big boys. And it was a typical long-ball flick on sort of goal [for New Zealand]," Culina told au.fourfourtwo.com. 

"It was disappointing to go 1-0 down but we had confidence towards the end of the first half we started to play a little more football and in the second half our fitness and movement of the ball demonstrated that we were the superior team."

Culina's second half display caught the eye as the Gold Coast United midfielder roamed the wider areas and used his creative arsenal to good effect.

 "He [Verbeek] gave me a bit of freedom to go out wide and create some space and that was what we were lacking in the first half, the width," he said.

"And I think we played a little too much tucked in, in the first half and allowed them to have the ball too much.

"Pim's instructions were to get out wide and open them up and tuck in when we don't. I enjoyed it. I've played there a few times before and it's something that I enjoy."

Culina added: "A little bit of freedom every now and then is pretty good."

To see the fans at the MCG tonight..

.