All Whites era dawns in Dublin
Hay tenure begins with defeat against Ireland but encouraging signs shown by young side
in Dublin
A conversation between a group of Irish journalists neatly summed up the feeling about New Zealand’s performance in their 3-1 loss to the home side yesterday.
While beaten, the All Whites impressed with their ability to retain possession, take the initiative and create chances in the final third.
They led for 15 minutes in the first half and had more chances in the second, after Ireland had found their mojo.
“They were good, like," said one local scribe, as the others nodded.
“The way they passed it around, kept the ball, the young guys, there was some nice stuff, like.”
This is a new era, and there are plenty of positive signs. It’s not all sweetness and light, as the All Whites were exposed defensively and sometimes sloppy in possession in dangerous areas, but there was a foundation to build on.
Phoenix midfielder Callum McCowatt opened the scoring after half an hour but the Irish equalised on the stroke of halftime, before two well taken goals in the second half.
Captain Winston Reid got through 45 minutes and looked strong and the team lost some defensive shape in his absence in the second half.
Coach Danny Hay has repeatedly talked this week about “Rome not being built in a day” but there were some good foundation stones laid in the famed Aviva Stadium.
It’s clear the way this team wants to play, and there were some tasty moments, particularly in the first half. But they were also loose defensively at times and fortunate not to be caught in transition more often.
Chris Wood passed a pre-kickoff fitness test to play and there were good early signs. Elijah Just (19) and McCowatt (20) made their debuts and combined well to make inroads. Ryan Thomas, probably New Zealand’s best, and Sarpreet Singh were getting on the ball. Joe Bell was everywhere he needed to be behind them, and Reid, who hadn’t played a competitive match for West Ham for 622 days, was controlling the backline.
Some crisp passing on the left culminated with Thomas releasing Liberato Cacace, whose well placed cross was neatly finished in the far corner by McCowatt.
But just as it looked like the All Whites would take the lead into the break, they conceded from a corner in the 45th minute. Though it was a well delivered set piece, it was a soft goal in the circumstances, as Derrick Williams rose between Cacace and Wood to head home.
Ireland’s second goal was also disappointing. There was an element of bad luck, as McCowatt was fouled in the lead-up, before the ball was smashed home from the edge of the area by Maguire. But the All Whites were guilty of stopping and expecting a whistle, and as they switched off, Maguire got free.
Thomas forced two good saves from Kieran O’Hara in the Ireland goal but the hosts went closest, with Marinovic making an excellent block from Maguire in a one-on-one. But the third eventually came, with Callum Robinson stealing in front of Storm Roux at the far post to head in a standard cross from their right.
There were further chances to both teams, with Tuiloma and Elliott Collier going close for New Zealand.