I thought the centre-back in the middle - number 6 Gardiner - looked the best of the backline. He looked solid and delivered the ball a bit, but it is probably easier having centre-backs either side.
New Caledonia had a bit of action down their right flank in the first half, and then the penalty came from down that side in the second half when Isaako was left a bit exposed with a two-on-one, but also probably didn't need to make the challenge. Have to remember, though, he's a 15 year old kid, you have to live with these kind of things happening.
I was actually a bit let down by Leuluai, especially given there hasn't been many players get more hype prior to even playing NZ U17s. Of course, none of that is his fault, and is a combination of being at a big 'brand-name' club and having a famous NZ sporting last name. His first touch looked a bit heavy and was fortunate not to be dispossessed on the edge of the box by two NCL pressers in the first half. He gave away a few fouls where he just went straight through his man unnecessarily and the passing radar was a bit off. He was solid in the air, and didn't look to be beaten in many aerial duels, and did look to improve in the second half.
We of course have no idea how good NCL are in respect to the other teams, they could be the best team there, but, thinking back, there weren't too many chances and their 'keeper didn't have much to do. All three goals would be ones NCL would look back as avoidable on another day, with small errors, but that might be par for the course in U17 football. A loss would mean nothing, as a win over American Samoa is all that is needed to get to the quarters. It's also worth remembering at the last OFC U17/16 Championship the U17s lost their first game 0-5, so it's no longer a foregone conclusion away in the islands.
