Soccer: Under-17s lose final match

Cameron Howieson found the back of the net for the under-17s. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand under-17 soccer team have completed two-week camp in Doha, Qatar with a 1-2 loss to the local sports academy side.

New Zealand levelled the scores at 1-1 in the first half through Cameron Howieson but conceded a second goal with 10 minutes of play left in the second half.

New Zealand return from Doha having beaten a Club Brugge age group side 1-0 before losing all three encounters with the Qatar Sports academy 3-4, 0-3, and 1-2.

Coach Steve Cain believes the experience has been invaluable as his side tries to make the step up from Oceania qualifiers to the under-17 World Cup in Mexico in June and July.

"This trip, to an academy quite possibly unmatched in the world, has been a huge stepping stone for our team," said Cain.

"The gulf in class they have had to overcome from any previous opponents they have played has been huge and they have begun the process of closing that gap very well indeed in the past 10 days."

- NZPA