Happy Hudson to clear the decks in Dublin
ALL Whites coach Anthony Hudson will clear the decks for Cabinteely.
After they started their Confederations Cup build-up by ticking most boxes in a 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland in Belfast yesterday, the New Zealanders were crossing the border for a hit-out against the Irish club.
To be played in Dublin on Tuesday night, the match is the second of three the All Whites have scheduled before they open the Fifa tournament against hosts Russia on June 18.
The Kiwi side head into the game having started slowly but finished strongly in their tour opener against the world’s No 28ranked nation.
A sixth-minute strike from Liam Boyce was all that separated the two teams in their first encounter at senior international level.
Largely satisfied with the way his side grew into the match, Hudson used 16 of his 23-man squad in the match and wanted to give most of those who didn’t feature a run against Cabinteely.
‘‘I want to try and involve as many people as possible for that game,’’ he said.
‘‘Fitness-wise, we got players on the pitch tonight whose last game was a month or a couple of months ago.
‘‘The big positive from tonight was we got some really good fitness in us in a tough game.
‘‘We want more of that in the second game. The purpose of these games is to make sure we’re ready for the tournament, it’s fitness, improving tactically and with everything we’re doing.’’
Things came unstuck early as Boyce capitalised on a soft defensive lapse with a tidy finish, the hosts having at least two more good chances in the passages that followed.
The All Whites, though, eventually settled and after failing to genuinely threaten before halftime, were lively and creative as they moved to a moreattacking 4-4-2 formation in the second spell.
Ryan Thomas and Tom Doyle had good opportunities before replacement winger Kosta Barbarouses hit the front of the right post in the 71st minute after an expert through ball from halftime sub Bill Tuiloma.
Those two players and attacker Monty Patterson, who came on with Barbarouses at the hour-mark, sparked a REUTERS strong final quarter from the visitors.
While it did not result in an equaliser, Hudson was pleased with the way his team responded after ‘‘forcing it a bit too much’’ in the opening 45 minutes.
‘‘As soon as we started to play a bit more football, we were a lot better. We created chances and grew into the game.
‘‘At home, this team has beaten teams far bigger than us and are ranked a lot higher than us, so to come here and be in the dressing room afterwards and be disappointed to not get something from the game is a good sign.’’