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All Whites draw with USA on last-ditch goal


The New Zealand All Whites have snatched a late goal to claim a 1-1 draw in their international friendly against the United States in Cincinnati.


The United States are ranked 16th in the FIFA world rankings, while New Zealand are 94th.


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Ben Waine scored the goal in 89th minute, after an attempted clearance from a US defender was smashed into the Kiwi forward and it looped up over USA keeper Matt Turner to earn the Kiwis a late equaliser.


The All Whites started the match much better compared to their 3-0 loss to Mexico on Sunday, as Matt Garbett pounced on a loose ball in the second minute but fired over the bar.


The United States thought they had taken the lead through a 19th minute strike from Ricardo Pepi, who fired his shot low across Max Crocombe into the bottom left corner. However, the goal was ruled out for a foul on Liberato Cacace in the buildup.


Ben Waine All Whites football
All Whites goal scorer Ben Waine (centre) celebrates after the equaliser against the United States. PHOTO: A-LEAGUE

New Zealand had already registered more shots than they managed in the Mexico match inside the first 25 minutes.


The home side held most of the possession as expected, and when the All Whites attempted to counter attack, they lacked cohesion in the final third.


The best chance of the half came to Cacace, as a loose ball fell to his feet inside the box but his shot was confidently saved by Turner.


A long range strike from Yunus Musah, who plays his club football for AC Milan in Italy, forced a good low stop from Crocombe to keep the scores level heading into the break.



Crocombe was picked to start over Alex Paulsen and produced a performance to justify his selection. The New Zealand goalie, highlighted his second half with a brilliant one-on-one save to deny Brenden Aaronson.


Despite a strong effort from Crocombe in goal, the home side finally broke the deadlock in the 69th minute as AC Milan's Christian Pulisic.


Pullsic who came off the bench found space on the left and fired a low shot into the bottom right corner.



All Whites coach Darren Bazeley emptied his bench in search of an equaliser late on, with Waine replacing Chris Wood in the 74th minute before finding his fortuitous equaliser.


It was Waine’s sixth goal for New Zealand for the striker, who recently completed a loan move to Mansfield Town from Plymouth Argyle.


The scoreline was the same as the last meeting between the two sides in 2016.


USA 1 (Christian Pulisic 69’) All Whites 1 (Ben Waine 89’). HT: 0-0



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