Junior All Whites: Game Three vs Myanmar
New Zealand 5-1 Myanmar
Hence nobody needed to freak out over the America result. We knew that Myanmar were the team that we had to target, and we knew that one win would give us a great chance at making the next round. A win and a draw would mean an almost certainty. Oh, and hey, guess what? That’s exactly what the Junior All Whites went and did.
That draw against Ukraine seems a whole lot better after they went and dismantled the Americans 3-0. Ukraine didn’t concede a single goal in the group stages yet we came closer than anyone to beating their defence (Okay, the USA missed a penalty, but aside from that…). Coupled with this result, it’s been a successful campaign already. Anything in the round of 16 will be a bonus.
And we will be playing in the round of 16 too, guaranteed, after Qatar gave Senegal a battle. The four best third place finishers go through, and there are only six groups. Finish ahead of two other third placers and you’re through. Well, Argentina only managed two points and Senegal four, but with a lesser goal difference (-2 to our 0). Boom, we’re in. It also shows what a crucial thing that late goal flurry was in this Myanmar game. Had we finished 3-1, we’d still be in for a nervous wait.
But we’re not. Coz we won 5-1. Although for a while there it was pretty damn frustrating…
First thing’s first, there were a few more changes. Alex Rufer returned up top, but Noah Billingsley deservedly held his spot in the XI, dropping into one of the advanced midfield spots. Monty Patterson joined him there, with Joel Stevens and Matt Ridenton moving to the bench. Also, Ollie Sail was replaced in goal by Nik Tzanev and Jesse Edge replaced at right back by Brock Messenger. And finally, Bill Tuiloma sat into centre defence (in place of Adam Mitchell), his midfield spot taken by Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi.
You could see from the start of the game that this was a winnable one, but there was doubt in the way NZ played. There was a little too much hit-and-hope, with long balls sailing beyond runners. A lot of that was in not trusting themselves in possession. There weren’t always options to pass to and our forward four tended to all flood forwards and leave the two midfielders isolated. Plus, Myanmar weren’t exactly chumps. They caught us out a couple times and when Aung Thu cut inside Brock Messenger to score a fine opening goal, you could almost hear the spilling of loose change at the concession stands of Westpac Stadium (sorry, ‘Wellington Regional Stadium’).
On the course of the game, the goal wasn’t against the run of play, either. Myanmar were a limited team (especially size-wise) but Aung Thu is a real talent and he continued to threaten. A rasping 30-yarder came flying off his boot soon after only to ping off the crossbar to a 15,000 strong sigh of relief.
12 minutes after falling behind, New Zealand were level. It felt like a case of once they scored one, they’d know how to go about the rest of the game, and finally that elusive first goal of the tournament arrived after over three and a half hours of waiting. Sam Brotherton sliding a ball from half-way down the line onto the run of Deklan Wynne, whose perfect low cross intersected exactly with Noah Billingsley’s run and the score was 1-1. Five minutes before half-time, such a great time to score. It changed the entire complexion of the game and perhaps most important of all… it brought the crowd into it.
And then straight after the break we took the lead. If the first goal didn’t rattle Myanmar, then this one certainly did. 2-1 up and in the box seat now, New Zealand did have to endure some tricky moments but nothing took. Tuiloma and Brotherton were solid, Tzanev had a decent game in goal too. Joel Stevens came on and scored with basically his first touch and then we iced it with late goals to Brotherton and Lewis. Brotherton’s a towering header from a corner, Lewis’ a bit lucky as the Myanmar keeper absolutely fluffed a simple clearance. Important goals in what turned out to be a riot, though the first 40 minutes of it were anyone’s game.
Still, a historic night for New Zealand football and a proud moment for all the players and staff.
The Highlights:
GOOOOOOALS!!!
The Moment:
Scoring just before half time was huge, but scoring just after half time was the big one. A second knockdown for Myanmar, they never quite recovered. Lovely goal too, slick movement and precise play in the box. It’s the sort of thing we’ve been trying but not achieving most of the tourney.
The Lads:
“I’m incredibly proud of my team. There was enormous pressure on those young lads today and they dealt with it superbly. We put in a strong and very dominant performance in the second half,” Darren Bazeley
Shot, Bro:
Let’s give a collective shout out to Noah Billingsley, who really played well and for once a kiwi player got all the rewards they deserved. He scored the first goal, then set up the next two before leaving with a bout of cramp. Hardly surprising, he was all over the place, hassling defenders and generally causing havoc. Billingsley played off the bench in game one, but did enough to earn a starting spot against America. For this game, he moved back from striker to a wide attacking midfielder, and was just as effective. Great effort.
Sort It Out, Mate:
You could maybe have a word to Brock Messenger after getting skinned for Myanmar’s goal, but he was otherwise pretty impressive, getting forward with purpose without letting himself be caught out at the other end. Actually, if anyone deserves a little word, it’s coach Darren Bazeley. New Zealand’s two best attacking players have been Noah Billingsley and Monty Patterson, yet both started the first game on the bench. You had months to prepare for this, chief, what happened? All’s well that ends well, anyway.
Also, Clayton Lewis’ yellow card means he’ll miss the next game through suspension, which is a big shame.
Up Next:
U20 All Whites vs ???