All Whites hold on for win over Ivory Coast
- Dave Worsley
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
The All Whites have held off late attack to shock African champions Ivory Coast 1-0 in the Canadian Shield Tournament in Toronto.
The victory is arguably the best result since the 2010 FIFA World Cup and just the third in 19 matches against African opponents.
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Wing Eli Just scored the winning goal just prior to halftime before New Zealand scrapped their way against their classy opponents.
EPL player Chris Wood was a substitute off the bench in the 82nd minute to replace striker Kosta Barbarouses as All Whites management seek to control the 33-year-old's workload following a huge season of goal-scoring at Nottingham Forest.
Defender Libby Cacace was captain in what was New Zealand's first match since March, when they beat New Caledonia in Auckland for their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In the first match against world No.41 Ivory Coast, the All Whites at 86th had their first win over a team ranked that high since 2010.
Top defending by Finn Surman and centre back Tyler Bindon alongside goalkeeper Max Crocombe kept the All Whites in the game.
New Zealand scored through a counter-attacking goal by Austria-based Just in the 41st minute as Marko Stamenic won possession in the middle and picked out Just's run down the right flank.
Just's first angled his shot to the far left corner beat goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare.
Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae introduced a host of leading European players in the second half in the pursuit of goals coming close on severaloccasions through Brighton star winger in the Premier League, Simon Adingra.
The only injury concern was an apparent knee problem suffered by Callum McCowatt midway through the first half. He was replaced by Ben Old.
New Zealand will play the 25th-ranked Ukrainians on Wednesday morning in Toronto.