New Zealand booked their place in the Kirin Cup final after overcoming Panama in a penalty shootout in Yokohama, with Alex Paulsen producing the decisive save before Michael Boxall converted the winning kick. The All Whites and Panama finished level at 1-1 after 90 minutes before Darren Bazeley’s side prevailed 5-3 from the spot.
Panama made a bright start and attempted to put New Zealand under pressure early, but the All Whites gradually settled into the contest. Chris Wood provided a strong reference point up front and was involved in an early penalty appeal that was waved away before New Zealand began finding spaces behind the Panamanian pressure.
The breakthrough arrived in the 13th minute through an excellent team move. Callan Elliot drove forward and found Elijah Just around the edge of the area, with the winger feeding Ben Waine inside the box. Waine controlled the ball on his chest before laying it across goal, allowing Marko Stamenić to arrive and finish from close range for the 1-0 lead.
Panama responded strongly and gradually took more control of possession. José Luis Rodríguez briefly appeared to have found an equaliser, but the goal was disallowed for offside. New Zealand nevertheless remained dangerous whenever Panama committed players forward and came close to doubling their advantage in the 38th minute. Just released Elliot into the area, but the defender dragged his attempt wide.
That missed opportunity became more significant shortly before half-time. Rodríguez beat Elliot on the left and pulled the ball back towards Giovany Herbert, who finished beyond Paulsen to make it 1-1 in first-half stoppage time.
The second half developed into a tighter and increasingly physical contest, with neither side able to establish sustained control. Bazeley turned to his bench as New Zealand searched for another goal, and the changes almost produced the breakthrough around the 70th minute. Logan Rogerson attacked down the right before cutting the ball back for Lachie Bayliss, whose first touch created space for a curling effort that went narrowly wide of the left post.
Panama also continued to threaten during the closing stages, but New Zealand’s defensive structure held firm and Paulsen remained assured behind the back line. With neither side able to break the 1-1 deadlock, the match went directly to penalties.
New Zealand were flawless from the spot. Tyler Bindon converted the opening penalty before Stamenić, Moses Dyer and Bayliss also found the net. Paulsen then produced the defining moment of the shootout, reading Mijahir Jiménez’s effort and making the save that gave the All Whites control of the contest.
It left Boxall with the opportunity to finish the job. The veteran defender emphatically converted New Zealand’s fifth penalty and completed the 5-3 shootout victory.
Boxall’s role carried an additional story of its own. The 38-year-old Minnesota United defender had not been included in New Zealand’s original squad for the international window and was only brought into the group in Japan as an injury replacement for Finn Surman. The Portland Timbers defender was forced to withdraw after suffering a medial collateral ligament sprain in training with his club, opening the door for Boxall’s late return to the All Whites squad.
The decisive intervention, however, belonged to Paulsen. After a demanding 90 minutes in which Panama repeatedly tested New Zealand’s defensive resistance, the Motherwell goalkeeper delivered when the margin for error disappeared. His penalty save created the advantage New Zealand needed, with Boxall immediately converting it into a place in the final.
New Zealand will now move from Yokohama to Tokyo for Monday’s Kirin Cup final at the National Stadium, where they will face the winner of Japan and Ecuador. Panama will instead contest the third-place play-off.
New Zealand 1-1 Panama — New Zealand win 5-3 on penalties
Goals: Marko Stamenić 13’; Giovany Herbert 45+1’.
New Zealand penalties: Tyler Bindon, Marko Stamenić, Moses Dyer, Lachie Bayliss and Michael Boxall all scored.
Key moment: Alex Paulsen saved Mijahir Jiménez’s penalty.
Discover more from Oceania Football Center
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
