New Zealand Men's U-20s

14-0 Whyte's third

What's going on!? I'm at uni so can't watch the game, are they just not defending or? 

Severly one sided game, reminds me of the time Australia was in OFC against minnow opposition.

To think NZF has problems, look at the results that TFA have done over the years for their sport. Feel sorry for their players, great athletes in the rugby codes but nothing to show for football. Not good for football in the region

Saw this on the Tonga national team wiki. Never new Messi coached!

Qualification looks almost locked in... great to see with the team destined to qualify top and have an easier semi.

I am really looking forward to the U20 WC... we could have a really exciting team

                 Mata

     Singh            McCowett

Just                             Bell

               Carcace

I can't think of a better looking age group side than this (Middles - Seniors)

There is still a semi final we need to win. 

NZL 14 0 Tonga, Very weak opposition, so 'good performances' questionable; poor performances all the worse.

Nice to see Zweetsloot get a start. Commanding at DM, and also pretty effective, bar a couple of minor errors. Looked the part. Schnell also started; Mata and Sinclair rested. 

Spragg got goals(two tap-ins, work needed for the other) but missed plenty of chances, some bad misses, and gave the ball away plenty, as did Van der Hoofen', later subbed. It took a back (Tipelu) to score the first goal.

Whyte came on and immediately showed how it's done, with some nice finishes, but also made a few mistakes. Botica more constructive this game; Tipelu one nice headed goal, but like the rest of the defence, not tested much. Spain prominent down the R, and scored from what might have been a cross vs a very weak keeper.

Elliot (also subbed) had a mixed game - some excellent runs and passes, some errors. Not cut out for LB or LW IMO; looks good when cutting in and creating play - why not start this Nix trialist in his preferred mid position?

Ebbinge had a better game - again, vs weak opposition.

Bell also looked better this game, played higher, and some excellent finishing, lacking from others.

Curry came on a half time and looked pretty solid, and constructive on attack. Good touch. Not tested defensively.

I think NZ's very best side would monster this group.

Starting 11 for a must-win game? Maybe...

GK - take your pick

Spain  Botica Tipelu  Curry

     Zweetsloot  Bell

             Elliot

Whyte     Mata     Ebbinge

Mata - on reputation and record mostly. Would need to improve on the Tahiti game.

Conroy - no minutes yet? Injured? If not vs Tonga, then when?

PNG look like a small skilful side; their #5 and RW look decent. Even three players down (four if their sub is sanctioned for a punch the ref missed vs TAH), they're not to be underestimated. 

Ebbingsley ? think you mean Ebbinge

Agree. Add Wilkins at L back; Zweetsloot alongside Bell at CDM; push Just forward; Singh at CAM. Elliot and Waine in the mix presumably; who else? Wonder if there are other un-spotted talents out there.

Two defenders to pick still - who?

WOW their keep was awful!

Right, that absolves him of any criticism then?

No need for criticism, just state the facts

I'm sorry but if you think my comments are harsh you need a reality check... the fact is, he was woeful. His positioning for at least 3 of those goals was simply shocking. I didn't make any personal judgements - just assessed his performance. I am sure he's probably being harder on himself than what anyone on here might be, or elsewhere.

Woud in goal, Parker-Price on the bench as CM backup, Dane Ingham as RB backup, Deeley as LB backup, honestly not sure of any CBs ready to make the starting XI though

Sure why not,  cos NZF hasn't had a decent eligibilty scandal for a few years.....or are over age players allowed now?  

Carcace could probably play centrally in defence if needed. Did at u17 level.

Kelvin Kalua - just waiting on a FIFA waiver.

you guys do realise that Tonga actually used 2 keepers? - the 1st was subbed after letting in 7!

But still people dont deserve words such as awful or shocking. Sure there are technical elements of goalkeeping  not done well. Focus on that not derogatory comments.

So how would you describe a shocking performance without using the word shocking?

I'm not a forum bully by any means, but what world are you living in or want others to live in when using simple adjectives to describe a performance is too heavy handed??

I didn't attack the person / player, I commented on the performance. I'm not judging him the person, but him as the player. Your clearly a decent guy / girl Keefy, but IMO unrealistic, at least on this site.

My 10 year old daughter's swimming was awful yesterday and I told her that

PNG game starting now:

https://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofcu19m-live-stream-pngnzl/

Finished 4-0, Mata with the hatrick and Conroy with the other.

So when are the semi's and finals?

what was the name of the player in the forward line on the left flank?

Semis Wednesday

Final Saturday

Exactly. Matthew Conroy. I'd been wondering why he was the only player in the squad who hadn't  played yet. Maybe injured, or not very good?

Anyway, he comes on at halftime at  0-0 and within 15 minutes had scored, earned two penalties, had another turned down (tripped in the box, or pushed over, looks like). Transformed a game where NZ was squandering chances, and PNG going close.

Looks like a real talent; fast, dynamic, gets in to good positions, skilful, dribbles very well, passes well, decent shot, and works very hard. Seemed to treat 'left wing' as a guideline only, and was all over the pitch - but to good effect, from picking up unmarked players on defence, to popping up in goalscoring positions on the R. Seemed inclined to go where he was needed, rather than where he was supposed to be. 

After Akers (?) came on, he seemed to move more centrally.

Amazingly, not sighted in the first two games, and subbed on at half time here.

Be interesting to know why he was the last player in the squad to get some game time - Buckingham not wanting to expose a small young player to injury, is a charitable reason. Rojas, Singh, and Krishna also spent a lot of time on the bench - why won't our coaches field talented players? All are small, and maybe the faulty idea that small players are worse than big ones is part of it. But if anything, the smaller players seem to be more skillful.

Conroy's 17, ex Phoenix reserves, now listed as Western Springs. Hope Rudan has had a look. Would like to see him vs stronger opposition. He might also thrive at a higher level - some of his good work was wasted by teammates vs PNG.

As far as the U20 team goes, seems this guy ought to play every minute if they're trying to win.

Matt came back a few weeks ago from a broken leg, and amazingly played for his club and performed immediately well for them with seemingly no confidence issues. He played  and did the camp and was quite a physical mess I heard leading into the tournament, so likely Des waited until he was recovered. He was full of pent up energy and entered a game where the temperature was apparently close to 29 degrees, and both teams struggling with it. His impact was immediate and fantastic and tuned the game in NZ favour. Powerful sub and well done to him for this recovery and impact

NZ vs New Caledonia semifinal coming up - winner goes to the 2019 U20 world champs in Poland.

If men's Elo rankings are a guide, NC should be about as good as Tahiti, who NZ struggled to beat.

Starting 11?

At a guess, Buckingham might go with...

            Either GK

Spain  Botica  Tipelu  Elliot

       Zweetsloot Bell

Whyte   Conroy   Ebbinge

             Mata

I'd like to see:

            Either GK

Spain Botica Tipelu Curry

       Zweetsloot Bell

Conroy   Elliot   Ebbinge

              Mata

Mata a little lucky to make the starting 11 on current form - lots of goals, many of them penalties, but too many missed chances.

HT 0-1 Own Goal - although MyCujoo has it as 1-0 to NZ!

Well, the NZ player scored, so...

Went back and watched the goal, was an own goal of Mata but he really knew nothing about it after a NZ player marking the inside post went up and missed the clearance header to get rid of the corner.

Here is the goal here https://mycujoo.tv/video/ofc-football?vid=199202#OFCU19M

Mata scores again in the same goal, luckly we changed ends at half time. 1-1

Goal to Ebbinge. 2-1 NZ

Watched the 2nd half, was impressed with the quality of this age group from both sides. NZ were unlucky in the goal they conceded and were clearly the dominant side. 7 minutes of extra time was brutal, especially when it became 8! I'm guessing that was for the water breaks though?