Wood scores, All Whites lose to Socceroos
- Dave Worsley
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
The All Whites scored against Australia for the first time in over a decade but still lost the second game of the Soccer Ashes at Mt Smart.
Australia were comprehensive 3-1 winners complimenting their 1-0 victory in the first game on Friday in Canberra.
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All Whites captain Chris Wood's second half goal, was the first time New Zealand had scored against the trans-Tasman rivals since 2010, but the home side couldn't add to it, coming close on several occasion but always chasing Australia.
The Socceroos took a 1-0 lead into half-time courtesy of a 34th minute goal for striker Mohamed Toure who beat All Whites goalkeeper Max Crocombe.
Just a minute earlier Crocombe had pulled off a diving save to stop Kye Rowles but he could not do the same against Toure.
The All Whites' best chance of the first half came just before the 40 minute mark Paul Izzo, saved a shot from Sarpreet Singh's which had deflected off the crossbar with the Australian keeper then stopping Tim Payne's shot off the rebound.
Australia scored their second through Championship player Nestory Irankunda in the 54th minute The 19-year-old showing his finishing class.
Wood scored in the 57th minute latching on to a Francis De Vries ball from close to give the large crowd hope but Toure added his second goal a few minutes later.
Guinea -born Toure thought he had a hat-trick just after the hour mark before VAR ruled it out.
All Whites coach Dareen Bazeley gave 17-year-old Luke Brooke-Smith 10 minutes for the senior side before he heads to the Under-20 World Cup.
Wood has rushed back to England and Nottingham Forest to meet his new manager Ange Postecoglou who has been appointed head coach replacing the sacked Nuno Espirito Santo who fell out with with owner Evangelos Marinakis.
