AUCKLAND – An early Shane Smeltz penalty wasn’t enough for the All Whites on the start of their pre-Confederations Cup warm-up tour, losing 1-2 to Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on Thursday morning (NZT).

Smeltz converted a 10th minute penalty – his 11th goal in nine starts – to give New Zealand a 1-0 lead they held to half time, but the Taifa Stars equalised ten minutes after the break and grabbed an 89th winner to deny the All Whites a first win on African soil.

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert handed 17-year-old striker Chris Wood his first international cap, while Tim Brown and Tony Lochhead had both sufficiently recovered from stomach bugs to take their place in the starting line-up for the first of three friendlies before the FIFA Confederations Cup begins.

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert still had concerns over the squad’s level of match fitness 11 days out from the opening FIFA Confederations Cups match against Spain but said some players were beginning to make claims for inclusion for when he fields a first-choice eleven in the third and final warm up against World Champions Italy in Pretoria on June 10.

“If we classify this as a training run, I would have been reasonably satisfied,” Herbert said.

“I think physiologically we died away at the end but there were some positive signs from players who are going to make selection for Italy interesting.”

“It was a good opportunity to get back [on the field]. Tanzania were very quick but the pleasing thing was that they didn’t get in behind us too much. Fatigue certainly came into play but the first spell was particularly pleasing.”

“Tanzania are a very good side and were a great test for us tonight.”

Herbert handed Chris Wood his first international cap, and said the teenager didn’t look out of place at the highest level.

“I was very impressed with Chris from a work ethic point of view and he’s got a degree of pace as well. I think he’ll be very pleased with his efforts tonight.

“Age isn’t a barrier for me, but he’s done very well for such a young person. Whether or not he sets the world alight over the next few weeks or in the World Cup playoffs, he’s an absolutely quality find for New Zealand.”

Celtic striker Chris Killen and MLS Midfielder Simon Elliott – two of five players who only arrived into camp the day before the match – both came off the bench in the second half, but Herbert resisted the temptation to use the key duo more given the team face another day of travel back to Gaborone, Botswana via Johannesburg.

Tony Lochhead and captain Tim Brown and had both sufficiently recovered from stomach bugs to take their place in the starting line-up although their recovery will be monitored ahead of Sunday’s second friendly against Botswana on Sunday morning (NZT).

New Zealand vs Tanzania

National Stadium, Dar es Salaam

Wednesday 3 June

New Zealand: 1(Shane Smeltz 10-pen)

Tanzania: 2

Halftime: 0-1

New Zealand: 1-Mark PASTON (GK), 3-Tony LOCHHEAD, 6-Ivan VICELICH, 8-Tim BROWN (Captain), 9-Shane SMELTZ (16-Chris JAMES 75), 11-Leo BERTOS, 14-Jeremy CHRISTIE (7-Simon ELLIOTT 55), 15-Jeremy BROCKIE (13-Andy BARRON 75), 17-David MULLIGAN, 19-Steven OLD, 20-Chris WOOD (10-Chris KILLEN 55).

Substitutes not used: 2-Aaron SCOTT, 4-Duncan OUGHTON, 5-Ben SIGMUND, 12-Glen MOSS (RGK), 18-Andrew BOYENS, 21-Kris BRIGHT, 22-Jarrod SMITH, 23-James BANNATYNE (RGK).

Coach: Ricki Herbert

Story and photo courtesy of NZF Media

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