Soccer: Young All Whites aiming to create history in 'mini final'

A win for the Young All Whites would equal the best effort by a New Zealand team at a Fifa tournament. Photo / AP

New Zealand's hopes of reaching the second phase of a Fifa tournament for the first time go on the line early tomorrow morning when Steve Cain's Young All Whites tackle Burkina Faso in their second pool match at Under-17 World Cup in Enugu.

The odds are stacked against the Oceania champions but Cain is confident his young charges can step up after their encouraging 1-1 draw with Costa Rica on Sunday.

"It's shaping as mini final as both teams will be looking for three points to get some sort of foothold in the final 16," said Cain. "We've never beaten an African team in Africa and playing at 4pm in 30 degrees and with 95 per cent humidity will be difficult."

Burkina Faso were beaten 1-0 by Turkey in their opening group D match and must take at least a point from the match to have any chance of progressing.

After missing New Zealand's opening game through suspension, Waitakere United midfielder Jack Hobson will challenge Jamie Doris, Cameron Lindsay and Zane Sole for a start although it is unlikely Cain will be tempted to make many, if any, changes to the team.

A win for the Young All Whites would equal the best effort by a New Zealand team at a Fifa tournament.

At the women's under-20 World Cup late last year New Zealand beat Chile and drew with England for a four-point haul. The late equaliser snatched by England cost the New Zealanders a place in the quarter-finals.