The All Whites opened their World Cup preparation campaign with a 2-0 loss against a slick Mexican outfit in LA last night. Former All White Harry Ngata offers his perspective on the match.
Coach Ricki Herbert predicted pre match that a 'baptism of fire' could be on the cards and although at times it was all hands to the pump, the All Whites certainly weren't disgraced by the score line.
It may have been a fiery baptism for new boys Tommy Smith and Chad Coombes who both had solid debuts but it was the absence of Ryan Nelsen and Ivan Vicelich that was clearly evident especially in the second half where Mexico shifted up a gear like a well oiled machine.
The All Whites went into the sheds at halftime with a gritty game plan and a score line that read 0-0. The only real pressure coming from Efrain Juarez down the right and a Jonathan Dos Santos volley from 30 yards that rattled Glen Moss's crossbar while older brother Giovani could have done better with a couple of half chances before the break.
However it was only a matter of time before the Mexicans turned their heavily weighted possession into chances and eventually into goals.
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre rang the changes at half time with instant effect. The agility, skill and pace of front men Javier Hernandez and Arsenal's Carlos Vela were too much for the Kiwi back line to handle at times.
After a promising start Chad Coombes was made to suffer after a quick break and cross from his side led to Hernandez rising above Tommy Smith to powerfully head home from 8 yards and give Moss no chance.
Hernandez, currently leading the golden boot stakes in the Mexican First Division was fresh from a double the week before in Mexico's 5-0 demolition of Bolivia and along with Vela, Torrado and the Dos Santos brothers started to lift the tempo and intensity of their game.
Battle and fight all they might the All Whites couldn't match the precision passing and movement the Mexican's served up in a 20 minute spell. The All Whites turned possession over continuously as Mexico quickly applied a high pressure game.
Carlos Vela added the second goal in quick succession after out muscling Ben Sigmund and out smarting Andy Boyens to finish clinically from close range.
Ricki Herbert went to his bench with Michael McGlinchey and Rory Fallon making significant inroads into an attacking display lacking cohesion and quality service. Fallon did hit the back of the net with a quality finish in the 75th minute however referee's assistant Sean Hurd had deemed he had strayed into an offside position a split second before.
The Mexicans were clearly on a different planet. They exposed the frailties of absent personnel and a team lacking cohesion due to a number of circumstances.
It has enabled Herbert to access his cattle and give him a clearer picture of who, what and where. The Mexican style of football will be very similar to that of Paraguay who the All Whites play in their third pool game.
In my opinion our brand of football is probably more suited to that of upcoming opponents Serbia, Slovenia and Slovakia.
While the players will never look for excuses lets not forget we were up against the 15th ranked team on the planet who will face off against England, Netherlands and Italy before the opening game at the World Cup versus the host nation.
With all due respect we had part time school teacher at Rutherford College Chad Coombes up against Jonathan Dos Santos of Barcelona and West Pac employee Andy Baron against Andres Guardado of Deportivo La Coruna.
You don't deny the players this opportunity to foot it with the 'pros' of the business but this is professional football – it is what it is. A young rugby nation on the verge of football history with a purely semi professional domestic league at best up against the 8 time CONCACAF champion.
The 90,000 odd screaming Mexican fans who packed the Rose Bowl witnessed a David and Goliath battle.
Although Goliath prevailed, the 2-0 score line was probably more of a win for David.
