New Zealand Men's U-20s

Some promising moments at least

I don't agree with the crosses going into the box though. Its basically saying we aren't good enough to play the ball into the box so we'll try our luck with the cross. The passing play in midfield is getting better though but Portugal is good as applying pressure.

We need all our age group teams to be trying to pass like this, mistakes will happen but we will over time become better at it. Its a much better display than i expected.

if it wasn't for the fever guys down the end here you could hear a pin drop.

Hhhhhhhmmm I thought that we had a 1st class RCB .........I am sure he will fit just nicely in CL....!!!

What about all the drumming and all white chants the go up when we get a free kick????

that is a little and only starts with the drumming. More competitive than I expected and a nice night out for the football good the rain stopped.

Perfectly respectable first half. Billy t is on a different level compared to the others, but they are trying

this is bills best game so far IMO. Going by the trend we should be better this half.

But that's not the message being given to them. Preaching possession based football and playing out is one thing, but going out and doing it on the pitch is another thing.

What's clear is that the players are being instructed to not play out from the back - even though the one time we did play across the back line quickly we managed to release Blake on the right.

Playing 1-3-5-2/1-5-3-2 vs 1-4-3-3 it means our wing backs are the spare men when playing out. 3 central defenders vs 3 attackers means wing backs are open.

It's clear the message is play out to one side, or into midfield quickly to advance forward and then play in behind...effective? Yes. sustainable long term? NO

a solid response to the goal. Could have opened the floodgates but instead we decided to play.  Other than Dyer who has been dire indeed you would have to say the guys have acquired themselves well. 

Despite his detractors on here Patterson has looked good, he instinctibely knows how to make a run and where space is. 

In the second half they should just go out and play, express themselves, they'll never play in another event like this again so have nothing to lose. 

I'd be looking to bring Joel Stevens on for Patterson soon. I'm not a Patterson knocker but don't think he's been overly effective and a little wasteful tonight.

Yopika steam stuttering for anyone else?

GOOOOAL

Get in !!!!

Get the fudge in.

Holthusen in, he scores, Bazeley you genius!

This is the beautiful game

Anyone got a better stream?

Happy with the score so far but what a sharke game.

AMAZEBALLS

Bazeley the tactical genius! Its all thanks to science! 

How much did NZF pay FIFA for that goal?

Well I am one of those who expected a blood bath. 

Dyer isn't that good is he.

moses does give away a lot of ball

I believe

http://hahasport.so/soccer/u20-portugal-vs-new-zealand-iz2320i# is the best stream i've found if people are looking

Giving it away real easily

I'm a fan of BIllingsley, works his ass off

Holt shouldve done better there, had heaps of time

This is  like watching a totally different team

Such a poor decision by Dyer there - had two free inside and he tries to take on two players outside

Great pressure by Wynne there

Yeah and Dyer has been the worst for giving the ball away but we really need our age group teams to encourage the players to try this sort of thing. Even if it keeps failing at first it will start to be a success over time.

We look a bit tired now; if we want to win feel like we need to get it done before full time

We have made such huge progress in the last 15-20 years since we first played at an U17's and got battered. I know there are still lots of things that could be better but overall football in NZ is much much better than it was in the early 90's. Hope the progress can continue.

Imagine what these guys could've done with a much better coach! (To be fair, Bazeley has done okay this game)

I think it's also really unlucky that Boyd missed out; he would've provided that something extra.

Nice goal.

Erm why did the defender jump?