New Zealand U-23s - Quali Whites
thanks.
game is looking a bit grim . . .
yip. at least they can't score against us now . . .
Would like to see how we'd match up against Saudi.
I'm using Opera browser on PC. Presuming it works similar on other systems, left-click in the video, then right-click and use Zoom and you may be able to adjust the video screen size... but even at 'full-screen' it only appears to use ~2/3 area of my screen.
agree. And the Saudi's look like they move the ball really well in a way that most of our players will never have come up against. Disappointing result, but I think you have put it into the proper context.
I did not see either of the sendings off (sp?) but read here that the first may have been a bit soft? Not sure about the 2 yellows?
Possibly good experience at playing a player down- it seems to happen reasonably often, especially at age-group level, with a rush of blood to the head
Can't see how any game like that could be pointless.What it will show is that there are some players that are not ready,some that will never be ready and perhaps some that are ready.
We have to qualify first. We could very well stuff it up.
Can't see how any game like that could be pointless.What it will show is that there are some players that are not ready,some that will never be ready and perhaps some that are ready.
Agree
Voxy News Engine
Auckland - New Zealand's U-23 footballers endured a night that could best be described as character building, as part of a nine-man New Zealand 'A' side that lost 6-0 to the Saudi Arabia National Team in Melbourne on Friday night.
After restricting the Saudis - down under to meet Australia in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Wednesday night - to three goals on Monday night, the addition of four overage players to the U-23 side was expected to help bridge the gap.
But the presence of Cole Peverley, Aaron Clapham, Jason Hayne and Cole Tinkler was never able to be fully leveraged once the side was reduced to 10 men after just 7 minutes.
Michael Eagar went hard and late in on a tackle, catching more leg than ball, but the quick dismissal still seemed a harsh punishment for the team Wellington midfielder.
Undermanned in defence New Zealand 'A' conceded twice in three minutes to be 0-2 behind after little more than 15 minutes, and while early substitute James Musa helped strengthen the back line, the Saudis netted again to be 3-0 ahead at the break.
Playing a full national team preparing for a do-or-die World Cup qualifier was always going to be a tough ask for the primarily locally sourced U-23 squad but with ten men it was largely one way traffic.
The deficit stretched to four nine minutes into the second half and a quick fire pair of yellow cards to Andrew Milne reduced the Kiwis to nine men for the final 24 minutes in which the Saudis added two more goals for good measure.
The New Zealand U-23s begin their Road to London at the Oceania Olympic Qualifiers in Taupo from March 16-24
NZF forgot to fax the squad list through, so we've been disqualified.
Made funnier as I believed it for half a second due to previous admin stuffups.
NZF forgot to fax the squad list through, so we've been disqualified.
Made funnier as I believed it for half a second due to previous admin stuffups.
NZF forgot to fax the squad list through, so we've been disqualified.
sadly believable
the players were told during the week, no official announcement as yet though, we obviously don't need to know
Can confirm that the Tech wank Tristian Prattly has been selected for the U23's. For you guys thats the Otago United Captain (if only he saw the light and came to us)