The Young All Whites face Costa Rica, Burkina Faso and Turkey at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria beginning on October 25.
A well-taken goal from Glasgow Rangers’ Andrew Milne – one of three players just back from UK academies – gave the tourists the lead just before the halftime break, but a late equaliser from the Victorians left New Zealand coach Steve Cain lamenting wasteful finishing from his charges.
“We had four or five one-on-ones which we failed to finish, and we can’t afford to do that when we get to the World Cup.”
“We must be composed and clinical in front of goal because we won’t be given second chances when we get to Nigeria.”
“Having said that, the game was a useful exercise for us as we needed to blow off the cobwebs after touching down only the day before.”
Cain made six second half substitutes against VIS and will use Friday’s match against Gippsland’s senior men’s side as a chance to ensure all his squad – injured captain Gordon Murie aside – has seen some time on the pitch by the time the Young All Whites play a rematch against VIS on Sunday.
Murie is set to face a fitness test on his injured ankle before that third tour match, with his chances of leading the side out against Costa Rica on October 26 (NZT) resting on playing some part in Melbourne.
Result
New Zealand U-17: 1 (Andrew Milne 45)
Victoria Institute of Sport U-17: 1 (88)
Halftime: 1-0
October 14
Darebin International Sports Centre, Melbourne
New Zealand: Coey Turipa (GK/ Patrick George), Ashton Pett, Josh Morrison, Adam Thomas, Luis Estevez (Tane Gent), Zane Sole (Stephen Kibby), Jamie Doris, Cameron Lindsay, Thomas Spragg (Michael Built), Andrew Bevin (Tim Pilkington), Andrew Milne (Nikolai Molijn).
Substitutes not used: Gordon Murie (Injured), Alex Carr (RGK), Jack Hobson-McVeigh, Matt Gibbons.
Coach: Steve Cain
New Zealand U-17 Schedule
October 16
New Zealand U-17 v Gippsland
Latrobe Stadium, Morwell
Kick off: 9.30pm (NZT)
October 18
New Zealand U-17 v Victoria Institute of Sport
Darebin International Sports Centre, Melbourne
Kick off: 6.30pm (NZT)
FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009
October 25 – November 15
October 26
New Zealand v Costa Rica
Enugu
Kick off: 7am (NZT)
October 29
New Zealand v Burkina Faso
Calabar
Kick off: 4am (NZT)
November 1
New Zealand v Turkey
Calabar
Kick off: 7am (NZT)
Story courtesy NZF Media
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