Soccer: Nelsen saves NZ

A brace of goals from New Zealand soccer captain Ryan Nelsen earned his team a 2-2 draw with Thailand A in Bangkok yesterday.

Nelsen struck in the 20th and 58th minutes to draw the All Whites level after they twice fell behind in the first half.

The Blackburn Rovers defender smashed a volley from 10m after Andy Boyens nodded a corner back into his path, then met a wide free-kick with a powerful header for New Zealand's second.

He later had a strong penalty claim turned down and put another header wide as a first international hat-trick went begging.

New Zealand were forced to play the last 25 minutes with 10 men after fullback Tony Lochhead was sent off for two questionable bookings, although the first yellow card was rescinded after the match because of a case of mistaken identity by the local referee.

Coach Peter Reid utilised many of the players used in Thailand's 3-1 win over the tourists on Sunday and his A side took the lead after just seven minutes through a precise 20m free-kick that sailed into the top corner.

They restored their advantage two minutes before halftime when a ball played over the defence caused indecision between Boyens and goalkeeper Glen Moss and allowed a Thai striker to pinch a 2-1 lead.

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert said his side had lifted their performance compared with the defeat against the Thai national side.

"I was very pleased tonight, we dictated 60 to 65 per cent of the game," Herbert said.

"We fell behind to a hell of a strike and it was a defensive error for the second with a couple of players getting caught in no man's land. But apart from that I think we only allowed one shot the second half.

"It was a step up, which was important for us to achieve tonight, so onwards and upwards."

Herbert was particularly pleased with the way the side responded to playing with 10 men on another hot Bangkok night and the performance of the four players added to the starting XI.

- NZPA