The All Whites showed character and resolve in their draw with China at the weekend on the back of some high octane pressure off the ball.
On Wednesday they could not convert a number of chances created and were caught napping by their hosts late in the first half, and in a frustrating second half, they were caught out of shape as they pressed forward in search of goals.
While disappointed with the result, coach Anthony Hudson believes the exercise has been positive in introducing a number of teenage players to international football.
“Tonight was a disappointing result for sure,” said Hudson.
“I certainly thought over the course of the two games there are a lot of positive we can take from the trip but sadly tonight, while there were parts of the game that were really good, there one or two areas that we were very disappointing.”
Hudson said he and his staff put a lot of pressure on their young players to replicate a must-win environment that they will face in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying process and that pressure had taken some toll on the young players.
“The positives are we had good periods of possession, we have created chances. The disappointing part is we have not been able to finish chances and out of possession we have lacked the ability tonight to work hard and press and make life difficult for Thailand. We lacked consistency tonight. But these are the games we learn from.
“Tonight I saw a lot of things where I know we can build on. If we came here tonight and didn’t create chances and have those good periods I would have been disappointed.
“But this is the reality now, we have come into the changing room and we have to understand that there were certain areas of the game that were not good enough.
“What we do know is we have a really good group of players. A lot of the group lacks experience but we have to quickly learn and step up to the plate. We will deal with it and we will get it right.”
Hudson’s team made a bright start and established the upper hand in possession in the opening 30 minutes – a period which saw Marco Rojas denied by an excellent save from the Thailand goalkeeper before Kosta Barbarouses blazed over after good lead up work from Ryan Thomas and Chris Wood.
But as the half wore on the home side grew into the contest. They rattled the woodwork from distance in the 35th minute before Gleeson made an outstanding save low to his left six minutes later. From the resulting corner the Portland Timbers goalkeeper was called upon again to tip over a goal-bound header.
The pressure was building on the visitors and Gleeson could do nothing about the next Thailand chance as Kirati Keawsombut powered in from 10m after the ball was switched back into the area.
Jeremy Brockie replaced Barbarouses at halftime and soon after the restart the Wellington Phoenix striker volleyed against the post.
Wood had the ball in the Thailand net just before the hour mark after an excellent through ball from Ryan Thomas but the goal was ruled out for offside – a harsh call from the replay – and the Leicester City striker went close again soon after from the edge of the area as his shot flew just wide.
Thailand-based attacker Kayne Vincent made his All Whites debut when he entered the game as 66th minute replacement for Bill Tuiloma.
But from there Thailand continued to press and refreshed by a number of substitutions, the home side were duly rewarded as Adisak Kraisorn made it 2-0 after putting in a rebound from Gleeson after the New Zealand goalkeeper couldn’t hold an awkward shot from distance.
The margin could have been greater if not for an incredible headed goal-line clearance by Tim Payne and the crossbar coming to the All Whites rescue once again late in the match.
Many of the players headed straight for the airport, returning to various parts of the globe, with the next international window for the All Whites in March next year.
Thailand 2-0 All Whites (half: 1-0)
THA: Kirati Keawsombut 44′, Adisak Kraisorn 77′
NZL: –
New Zealand: 5. Tommy Smith, 6. Bill Tuiloma (33. Kayne Vincent 66’) 7. Kosta Barbarouses (16. Jeremy Brockie 46’), 8. Michael McGlinchey, 11. Marco Rojas (18. Tim Payne 30’) 12. Jacob Gleeson (GK), 14. Ryan Thomas, 15. Storm Roux (31. Dan Keat 82’), 19. Michael Boxall, 20. Chris Wood (capt), 35. Deklan Wynne (17. Tyler Boyd 73’)
Substitutes not used: 21. Cameron Howieson, 26. James Musa, 28. Joel Stevens, 29. Jesse Edge, 32. Oliver Sail (GK), 34. Adam Mitchell
Coach Anthony Hudson
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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