21 Nov 2014

All Whites beaten by Thailand

12:48 pm on 21 November 2014

The All Whites have been beaten 2-0 by Thailand in their football friendly in Korat.

The New Zealanders failed to convert a number of goal-scoring opportunities and were caught napping by their hosts late in the first half, and in a frustrating second half, they were caught out of shape as they pressed forward in search of goals.

The All Whites drew 1-1 with China at the weekend.

The All Whites coach Anthony Hudson. China v New Zealand All Whites. 2014.

The All Whites coach Anthony Hudson. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

While disappointed with the result, coach Anthony Hudson believes the exercise has been positive in introducing a number of teenage players to international football.

Hudson says over the course of the two games there are a lot of positives they can take but sadly, while there were parts of the game that were really good, there were one or two areas that were very disappointing.

Hudson says he and his staff put a lot of pressure on their young players to replicate a must-win environment that they will face in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying process and that pressure had taken some toll on the young players.

He says the positives are they had good periods of possession and created chances, but the disappointing part is they have not been able to finish chances.

Hudson says a lot of the group lacks experience but they have to quickly learn and step up to the plate, and they'll deal with it and they will get it right.

Among their scoring chances Jeremy Brockie hit the post and Chris Wood had a goal incorrectly denied for offside.

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