NZ All Whites push strong Colombia side
- Dave Worsley
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
The All Whites have gone close to an upset in a football friendly in Fort Lauderdale in Florida as they faced Colombia.
New Zealand conceded goals in the opening three minutes and in the final three minutes of regular time, but played well inbetween challenging thier higher ranker opponents across the park
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Colombia are 13th while New Zealand are 85th. .
New Zealand got off to the worst possible start, conceding from Colombia’s first attack, in under three minutes.
Supported by a partisan crowd of around20,000, Colombia broke down the right and Jhon Arias crossed low and hard for Gustavo Puerta to rifle the ball from the edge of the area, and inside the left post.
The All Whites had plenty of opportunities as Sarpreet Singh crossed from the right forcing goalkeeper Álvaro Montero to tip the ball over the bar for a corner.
From the ensuing corner, Matt Garbett’s shot was deflected off a Colombian defender for another corner.
New Zealand went close to equalising in the 28th minute when Garbett won the ball in his own area, and fed the ball to Marko Stamenić. He found Singh whose quick release set up Kosta Barbarouses whose shot from the edge of the area was turned past the post by Montero.
In the second half, Colombia upped the pace of the game building attacks with quick passing and using their wide players.
In the 59th minute, the All Whites created their first chance of the half when Garbett shot wide from the edge of the box. Substitutes Ben Waine and Storm Roux then combined to set up a shot for Singh but it whistled wide.
A minute later, the All Whites drew level when Singh drove into the box and crossed low for substitute Ben Old to escape the attention of two defenders and bundle the ball across the line.
The goal boosted the New Zealand spirits and the Colombians were visibly rattled and then sub Jesse Randall volleyed wide in the 85th minute.
Colombia then struck with a hopeful long ball forward bounced kindly for substitute Johan Carbonero and he beat Roux to the ball, lobbing it over ‘keeper Max Crocombe and into the net.
In stoppage time, Colombia almost added another goal when Jorge Carrascal was on target but a diving Crocombe steered the ball wide of the goal, but the 'home' side were able to continue their unbeaten streak of eight games.
Colombia 2 (Gustavo Puerta 3′, Johan Carbonero 88′) New Zealand 1 (Ben Old 80′)