Coach Steve Cain was delighted with the performance against one of Belgium’s top age group sides.
“It was a very good game for us with a high tempo,” he said.
“Club Brugges rotation in midfield was excellent and their circulation of the ball top quality but we kept our shape and caught them on the counter with pace and control.”
Brugges dominated the first half hour with the Young All Whites forced to defend but, as the game progressed, Cain’s team created several goal-scoring opportunities of their own.
Tim Payne went closest to scoring with a header that hit the Brugges crossbar midway through the second half and saw another flash just past the post.
“Harshae Raniga, Luke Adams and Reece Lambert were outstanding at the back for us,” Cain said.
Other players to turn in notable performances included Payne and Cameron Howieson.
The Young All Whites snatched victory one minute into time added on when they counter attacked from a Brugges corner and Ridsdale rounded the goalkeeper to score the winner.
The team has three more matches to play in Doha, Qatar, all of which are against the ASPIRE Academy.
Those matches are scheduled for Friday 25 March, Monday 28 March and Wednesday 30 March.
Young All Whites v Club Brugges
Wednesday 23 March, 2011
At ASPIRE Academy
Doha, Qatar
New Zealand: Scott BASALAJ (GK); Harshae RANIGA, Bill TUILOMA, Luke ADAMS (c), Reece LAMBERT, Jordan VALE, Rhys JORDAN, Ken YAMAMOTO, Cameron HOWIESON, Tim PAYNE, Dylan STANSFIELD
Substitutes used: Nathan BUSWELL, James WYPYCH, Calvin OPPERMAN, Alex RIDSDALE
Coach: Steve CAIN
Result: 1-0
Scorer: Alex RIDSDALE 90’+1
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz