The national under-20 men's football team have lost 1-0 to their hosts Uzbekistan in Ferghana, in the first of two warm-up games for the upcoming World Cup here, which starts at the end of next month.
The Junior All Whites play Uzbekistan again in Tashkent on Tuesday.
Junior All White Andre de Jong in action Photo: PHOTOSPORT
A 12th minute goal was the difference, though New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley says the match was a competitive game in front of a large home crowd.
"The game was played in a brand new stadium and it was a sellout crowd of 20,000 so they had a really good home support," Bazeley says.
Junior All Whites coach Darren Bazeley Photo: Photosport
New Zealand open the FIFA Under-20 World Cup against Ukraine on May 30 in Auckland while Uzbekistan meet Honduras in Christchurch on June 1 in their first match.
