The Young All Whites were shaded 2-1 by Waitakere United – last season’s minor premiers – at North Harbour Stadium on Thrusday night and face New Zealand and Oceania champions Auckland City on Saturday before a rematch against Waitakere on October 6.
Ash Solly powered a header past Coey Turipa from a 4th minute corner to give Waitakere the lead but U-17 right winger Michael Built broke in behind the defence to set up Thomas Spragg for an immediate reply.
A rearranged Waitakere line-up found what proved to be the winner early in the second half, profiting from another corner this time with a Jake Butler header.
Despite the close result Young All Whites coach Steve Cain is refusing to settle for a competitive performance without reward.
“We defended well apart from at set pieces which is disappointing. Waitakere have got some big strong boys but we’re going to come up against big strong boys at the World Cup,” Cain said.
“Outside the Wellington Phoenix, these are the best two sides in the country and it’s probably the best way to replicate the level that we’re going to come up against in Nigeria. It’s just the sort of challenge we need before we leave.
“But that said, we’re trying to instil a mindset that there are no good losses, regardless of who we’re up against. If that was a World Cup then we’ve come out of it with no points. We have to convert games into points, and if we build that mindset then hopefully they’ll take it through the rest of their careers.”
The side depart on October 13 for Australia where they will play three warm up matches en route to Nigeria.
They open their World Cup campaign in Enugu against Costa Rica on October 25, before tackling Burkina Faso on October 28, and relocating to Calabar to meet Turkey on October 31.
The match against Auckland kicks of at 1pm at the Croatian Cultural Society, McLeod Road, Henderson on Saturday. Admission is free.
Story courtesy of NZF Media
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