New Zealand Score Convincing 4-0 Win Over Harimau Malaya In Auckland

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- The national football squad failed to match the prowess of New Zealand's 95th ranked team in the world after losing 0-4 in ar Tier 1 international friendly match at the North Harbor Stadium in Auckland, today.

All four New Zealand’s goals came in the second half of the match as the first half had ended scoreless despite a flurry of chances created by the home team.

In their first meeting after 18 years, the Harimau Malaya squad under Pau Marti Vicente started on a cautious note and struggled to find their rhythm of play, allowing the superior New Zealand to dominate possession.

New Zealand striker Ben Waine almost put his team in front as early as the third minute, but goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed acted quickly to thwart his attempt in a one-on-one situation. 

Ahmad Syihan then saved Elijah Just's close-range shot in the 12th minute to deny New Zealand their first goal before Ben Old missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring when his header went just wide of the crossbar in the 15th minute.

The start of the second half was a different ball game as New Zealand started exerting their dominance and Ahmad Syihan was beaten for the first time when Just who was unmarked inside the box broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute following a quick counter attack.

Stunned by the goal, Malaysia, currently ranked 132nd in the FIFA World ranking, tried to stage a fightback but it was New Zealand who extended their lead through Matthew Garbett who nailed a pass from Liberto Cacace in the 61st minute.

The introduction of Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood added on to the Harimau Malaya squad’s misery as the 32-year-old headed in New Zealand’s third goal in the 72nd minute to ‘kill off’ any chance of a comeback by Vicente’s boys.

As the match was heading into the final minutes and Malaysia deliberately trying to avoid any more damage, second half substitute Logan Rogerson ensued a convincing victory for the All Whites, when he scored the fourth goal in the 90th minute.

The defeat was the first for Malaysia in four competitive matches since the Harimau Malaya squad came under the tutelage of Spanish coach Pau Marti Vicente after the sudden departure of South Korean head coach Kim Pan Gon in July.

In their last meeting back in February 2006 in Auckland, Malaysia lost 1-2 to New Zealand.

For the record, this was the first match New Zealand played on their home turf since beating China 2-1 in March 2023 because the team has been playing a series of matches overseas, including against Mexico, United States, Ireland and Greece.

-- BERNAMA