The result gives a New Zealand U-20 side their first win against a nation outside of Oceania since a 4-3 win over Nigeria at the Suwon Cup in South Korea in May 2011, a game which featured a goal from All Whites striker Marco Rojas.
A strong opening 45 minutes paved the way for the result in Doha on Sunday as Elijah Neblett struck in the fifth minute while Wellington Phoenix midfielder Matthew Ridenton made it 2-0 from the penalty spot seven minutes before halftime.
Andrew Blake smashed in the Junior All Whites’ third goal from the edge of the Moroccan penalty area 20 minutes after halftime.
Morocco pulled a goal back in the dying stages while the New Zealand side were playing with 10 men as Jesse Edge received treatment for an injury but that was as good as it got for the African side as the Junior All Whites continued to raise their level after earlier losses to Qatar and Chile.
New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley said Sunday’s win came on the back of improvements made since the opening game of the tournament on Wednesday (NZ time).
“It was a very good and very strong performance and I’d like to think it’s a performance that’s been coming,” Bazeley said shortly after the final whistle.
“It’s been a tough five days for us. The first game was hard with the travel and trying to adapt to this heat which is really extreme. The boys have worked really hard, stuck to what we’re trying to do and today implemented it really well.”
Bazeley said one of the most pleasing aspects of the effort was his side’s use of the ball with the New Zealanders playing at pace and with confidence.
“Generally we have struggled to score goals. Today we were a different team, we passed the ball and created chances and we looked quite a strong team throughout the game and looked in control of it.
“On their day they are a good team Morocco and they’d beaten Chile, who are very good, so they’re not a bad team and we’ve just done very well against them.”
Playing their strongest half of the tournament in Sunday’s opening spell, the Junior All Whites were ahead inside five minutes as Neblett poked home under the Moroccan goalkeeper after slick lead up work from Ridenton and Clayton Lewis.
In a half which saw the New Zealand side enjoy the better chances while able to match the physical Moroccan approach, Ridenton increased the Junior All Whites’ lead from the penalty spot after Andre de Jong was upended in the area after excellent build-up work.
The important third New Zealand goal came 20 minutes after the restart as substitute Alex Rufer set the ball back for Blake to cut inside and fire in an unstoppable left-footed effort from the edge of the Moroccan penalty area.
Bazeley said the nature of the win in the context of their previous best result – an historic 0-0 draw with Brazil in China in June – shows the team are moving in the right direction as they prepare for the FIFA U-20 World Cup on home soil in 2015.
“When you look back to the China tour, the Brazil game was a great performance but we were clinging on for the draw. Today we went and won the game. We had a couple of really good chances to go 4-0 up before they got one late on.
“Our goals were really good but defensively we were strong, worked hard and kept shape and we played as team today which is great because that’s something we’ve tried hard to work on.
“The players are getting it and they are starting to become one.”
New Zealand’s final match of the tournament is on Wednesday (NZ time) with the opponent and kickoff time still to be confirmed.
Morocco 1-3 New Zealand (half: 0-2)
NZL: Elijah Neblett 5’, Matthew Ridenton (pen) 38’, Andrew Blake 66’
New Zealand: Zac Speedy (GK), Gowan Stares (Spiros Agathos 46’), Adam Mitchell, Jesse Edge, Deklan Wynne, Birhanu Taye (Michael den Heijer 64’), Matthew Ridenton, Andrew Blake, Andre de Jong (Tomislav Trbuhovic 74’), Clayton Lewis (Monty Patterson 74’), Elijah Neblett (Alex Rufer 64’)
Substitutes not used: Oliver Sail (GK), Brock Messenger
Story courtesy of NZF
For more on New Zealand football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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