Jack Hobson-McVeigh scored a stunning injury time equaliser against Group D winners Turkey in Calabar, Nigeria on Sunday (NZT) to earn an unbeaten New Zealand an historic place in the knockout stages of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
With New Zealand down a goal and facing elimination due to Burkina Faso claiming second spot with a 4-1 win over Costa Rica in the group’s other fixture, Birkenhead midfielder Hobson-McVeigh picked the ball up 35 metres out from goal, beat his marker and unleashed am unstoppable drive into the top corner of the Turkish goal, sparking wild celebrations from team mates and staff.New Zealand’s unbeaten record – thanks to three 1-1 draws – and the resulting goal difference of zero is already good enough to clinch a place in the round of 16 as one of four best third-place finishers, but their opponents – either Switzerland or hosts Nigeria – won’t be confirmed until group plays concludes on Monday morning.
“I’m extremely proud of this bunch of young men because they have represented New Zealand with absolute pride tonight,” said New Zealand coach Steve Cain.
“I think people in New Zealand can be very proud of a team that’s gone through an entire group stage of a World Cup unbeaten and I think that’s a record that’s going to take some beating in the future.”
Both side had ‘goals’ disallowed in the opening stages with Ahmet Sari fouling Coey Turipa as he beat the kiwi goalkeeper to a high ball while New Zealand captain Gordon Murie was ruled offside when following up a parried shot from a Andrew Milne, who also had a first half shot cleared off the line.
But their was no chance of Turkey’s stand-in captain Engin Bekdemir having his effort ruled out when in the 17th minute his shot cannoned off an unlucky Adam Thomas and past the wrong-footed Turipa.
Turipa needed to be at his best to keep out a second half free kick from Bekdemir and then was superb again late on to deny the PSV Eindhoven midfielder scoring from the edge of the area.
Cain introduced Tim Pilkington and Nikolai Molijn from the bench in the three pronged attack to chase the equaliser but with time ticking away on the Young All Whites campaign it was Hobson-McVeigh who found the back of the net and clinch the history-making progression to the next round.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
