Football: Disappointing draw for All Whites

Myanmar's Phyo Ko Ko Thein, right, fights for the ball with New Zealand's Kosta Barbarouses. Photo / AP

The wait goes on for Anthony Hudson. After the All Whites' disappointing 1-1 draw with Myanmar early this morning, the New Zealand coach is still waiting for his first victory in charge.

It was meant to happen in Yangon - and the All Whites took the lead just before half-time - but they never looked truly convincing.

Shane Smeltz's 43rd minute penalty was cancelled out by a Myanmar equaliser with 25 minutes to play and the home side finished strongly.

Results aren't everything in international football - and Hudson has been focussed on building depth, with plenty of experimentation - but this was a disjointed, scrappy performance against a team that shipped nine goals without reply versus Kuwait last week.

There were some mitigating factors, including a pitch clearly affected by the torrential rain of the past few days while the side looked unbalanced by the absence of Deklan Wynne and Storm Roux on the flanks.

But New Zealand failed to take advantage of their physical superiority, failed to create much through midfield and failed to finish the opportunities that did present.

On the positive side, Marco Rojas had good moments - clearly benefiting from a run of first team football in Switzerland - and captain Winston Reid added assurance at the back. Goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic continued his good international form and Smeltz made a welcome return.

Myanmar had conceded three goals within the first 20 minutes against Kuwait - but there wasn't the same early fireworks from New Zealand. There were a couple of chances, with a Themi Tzimopoulos header from six yards, which was cleared off the line by a defender, the best opportunity.

The visitors had plenty of ball but were loose in possession; they lacked patience in their build up play and precision with the final pass. Myanmar gradually gained in confidence and got a foothold in the match.

Indeed, the home side should have taken the lead in the 37th minute, after striker Kyaw Ko Ko sprung the New Zealand offside trap. Bearing down on goal, he looked certain to score but was nullified by a superb save by Stefan Marinovic, the All Whites goalkeeper stealing the ball from beneath the striker's feet.

The All Whites finally broke their scoring drought - when had extended more than 200 minutes - with Smeltz's spot kick, his 24th international goal. Rojas won the penalty, after a mazy run inside the area.

That should have been a platform to launch but it didn't really happen. Instead, Myanmar lifted in the second half and grabbed an equaliser in the 66th minute through Thiha Zaw. His shot took a fortuitous deflection off Winston Reid but it was no less than Myanmar deserved.

The Asian side created further chances, and even enjoyed spells of dominance, an unlikely prospect before the match.

Hudson made a raft of second half substitutions but the changes made little impact; if anything the All Whites lost shape when Bill Tuiloma was replaced early in the second spell. Debutant Alex Rufer had a late chance - his goal bound header superbly saved by the Myanmar keeper - but the home side also looked dangerous in the closing stages.

All Whites 1 (S. Smeltz 43 [pen])
Myanmar 1 (T. Zaw 66)