Football: Junior All Whites see off Panama

Alex Rufer (C). Photo / Sarah Ivey.

The New Zealand Men's U-20 side continued their preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup later this month with a 2-1 win over Panama in the Five Nations Series at QBE Stadium today.

A goal in the first 60 seconds from Alex Rufer combined with a second half strike from midfielder Matt Ridenton gave the hosts the result over Panama who got on the board via Luis Pereira's 31st minute equaliser.

The New Zealand side made a flying start, taking the lead in the first minute through Rufer, as the frontman - who also scored against Australia on Sunday - slotted home well from Noah Billingsley's low cross.

From there Panama settled into possession with the New Zealand side well organised and looking to take advantage of opportunities in transition.

The game saw little by way of scoring chances until just after the half hour mark when a neat turn and pass on the edge of the New Zealand area found space for Pereira and the striker made no mistake in shooting past Oliver Sail.

The second half opened with the Men's U-20s on the front foot and Rufer thought he had his second of the game six minutes in; tucking home a neat cross from All Whites fullback Deklan Wynne but the goal was ruled out for offside.

But the second half improvement from the hosts was finally rewarded when substitute Judd Baker drove to the byline and, in similar fashion to Rufer's opener, Wellington Phoenix midfielder Ridenton slotted home as Panama 'keeper Jaime De Gracia could only parry the shot into the net.

The last 10 minutes produced chances at both ends as Andrew Blake and Baker went close to scoring for the hosts - Baker's effort cleared off the line by a retreating Panama defender after the New Zealand striker had neatly lobbed the ball over Panama goalkeeper Jaime De Gracia.

Bazeley said his side improved their work with the ball in the second half which provided the platform for getting the final result against a team which didn't concede a goal in their FIFA U-20 World Cup qualification campaign.

"Panama are a very good team and today we've matched them and beaten them," Bazeley said.

"I thought in the first half it was an even game but we didn't really dominate our possession.

"In the second half we got a little bit of confidence and we created some great chances to score and we could have got some more [goals]. Our possession was better in the second half, we were a little bit braver and our build-up play was better."

Bazeley said Thursday's win provided more information for his decision on the final squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup with only Sunday's clash against Qatar remaining before the coach names his side for the tournament opener on May 30 against Ukraine.

"It's down to them to grab opportunities and some of them could make it really hard for me to leave them out. Today I think everybody has worked really hard which is a basic requirement. That doesn't get you in the World Cup squad.

"The players that really pick up the style of play and the system in and out of possession are the ones I need to be able to trust to play in the World Cup."