On this day in 2008 the All Whites played a World Cup qualifier in Noumea. The 3-1 win was notable for Ryan Nelsen's return from international exile, Ben Sigmund's first All Whites goal, and, for the statto geeks, Allan Pearce's sole AWs appearance.
Back in 2012 the All Whites faced New Caledonia in Noumea to start their 2014 campaign, and eased to a 2-0 win the humidity. In 2015 they played a friendly in Myanmar, and were disappointing in a 1-1 draw when they realistically should've prevailed. Match notable for Shane Smeltz's last ever AWs goal, and he still remains the only All White to have scored against a team from all 6 FIFA confederations.
Back in 2014 the All Whites played a friendly in Tashkent, ending up on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline after a decidedly average performance. Match notable for Jeremy Brockie's first/only All Whites goal...
On this day in 2008 the All Whites played a World Cup qualifier in Noumea. The 3-1 win was notable for Ryan Nelsen's return from international exile, Ben Sigmund's first All Whites goal, and, for the statto geeks, Allan Pearce's sole AWs appearance.
There’s a few guys like Allan Pearce, Campbell Banks and others you think might have had such different career trajectories if the academy setups and pathways that are around today were available then… I thought he was a really talented guy. That’s a strong AWs team and a really nice piece of New Caledonian play to go 1-1.
Back in 2009, the All Whites faced Jordan as a build up match for their WC playoff, earning a good 3-1 result in a match that saw debuts for Messrs Fallon and McGlinchey, 2 goals for Shane Smeltz and a dodgy red for Ivan Vicelich. In 2013 the All Whites lost 2-0 to the UAE in Riyadh, in a fairly forgetable performance (and a match Ben Sigmund would very much like to forget)
A World Cup qualifier back in 2008 saw the All Whites host New Caledonia at North Harbour Stadium, with a Shane Smeltz braced accompanied by a strike from Jeremy Christie meaning we were officially OFC champions as well...
Back in 2012 the All Whites hosted the Solomon Islands at North Harbour stadium, racking up a half dozen with six different goal scorers and a fairly routine result.
Back in 1985 the All Whites started their World Cup campaign with a match at Mt Smart v Australia. Was a good battle that ended scoreless, although Wynton could feel hard done by on having a goal disallowed...
This was the very first match I ever watched live on tv, as a 6 year old!
First All Whites match I ever went to live. The booing when our goal was disallowed was one of the loudest things I had ever heard to that point of my young life!!
On this day back in 1981, the All Whites began Phase 2 of their World Cup campaign with a trip to the intimidating Workers' Stadium in Beijing. Sporting a strip with non-permitted advertising on it, they ground out an impressive 0-0 draw, in a match that featured the dulcet tones of British commentary legend Barry Davies.
Back in 1983, Olympics qualifiers were full internationals for the All Whites, and so they hosted Japan for a qualifier and earned a solid result. Some good goals, and interesting to see the debut of a very young Colin Tuaa...
am on the hunt, have a lead, no joy yet - anything that far back is always very tough (relies on someone having recorded on VHS, and still having it!!)
Back in 1998 the All Whites played the second match of their Nations Cup campaign in Brisbane against Vanuatu. With no TV coverage, this ropey home video footage is all that exists, but it still captured a goal glut with maiden strikes from Tinoi Christie, Rupert Ryan and Che Bunce, and a second international hat trick (+1!) from Vaughan Coveny.
The first home match of Phase 2 qualifying in 1981 saw a packed out, sun-bathed Mt Smart Stadium host China. And the crowd got their money's worth with an open end to end game - and an AWs win!!!
Back in 1985, the second match of the World Cup qualifying campaign was played at Mt Smart against Taiwan, and saw the All Whites prevail with a hat trick from Steve Sumner, a goal from the prolific Colin Walker, and a long range opener from Declan Edge.
