The New Zealand U-20 side showed resilience and determination as they secured a 2-1 win against the Indonesian U-20 team in a warm-up match held in Jakarta for the upcoming U-20 World Cup to be hosted by Indonesia this May.
This victory came after a defeat in their first match against Guatemala by 3-1, showing their ability to bounce back and recover from a loss. The team coach, Darren Bazeley, must have been pleased with the team’s performance, which displayed their potential to compete in the tournament.
The Junior All Whites took the lead at the 58th minute through a goal scored by the powerful striker, Oliver Colloty, who proved to be a threat for the Indonesian defense throughout the match. In the 70th minute, Jay Herdman, a Vancouver Whitecaps’ player, doubled the lead for New Zealand, putting them in a comfortable position.
Despite the deficit, Indonesia did not give up and continued to push for a comeback. However, their efforts were too little too late as Ferrari managed to pull one back for Indonesia in the stoppage time with a header, but it was not enough to change the outcome of the match.
The New Zealand team will now face Fiji in their final match of the invitational tournament, hoping to continue their winning momentum and gain confidence for the U-20 World Cup. The team’s ability to recover from the first loss and secure a victory against Indonesia bodes well for their chances in the upcoming tournament.
Oceania Football Center 