Angola a Stronger Side for New Zealand

New Zealand lost their opening match to Angola at the U-17 FIFA World Cup held in Estadio Bezerrao in Brasilia. Zini helped the nation from Africa to lead the game in just 6 minutes of the match. Matt Garbett made an equal score with the side of the Jose Figueira nine minutes after the break; Harry Bark helped Angola to be ahead with 2-1. New Zealand shouted strongly for a penalty in the middle of the first half, when the goalkeeper from Angola, Geovani pushed the midfielder from New Zealand, Sean Bright to a corner which urged Craig Pawson, the video referee to interfere after it was ignored initially.

The Kiwis finished the match with just 52% of ball possession. They were only able to hold the ball at the back because they started to build up again, but they lacked behind because they were short of ideas in the final countdown of the game. Zini opened for Angola much earlier and he was able to rise above Adam Hillis, the center back for meeting a cross from Zito on the right side. He headed the ball past the goalkeeper of New Zealand Alex Paulsen. At the 54th minute of the game, the equalizer score came after Garbett received the football at the edge of the right side of the box, nutmegged Pablo, the marker, and then poked it into the far of the net as two opponents arrived then for tackling him.
In the next match, the Kiwis will be hosting Brazil who has already defeated Canada by 4-1 in their first match at the World Cup tournament. The top two teams will advance to the next round. Earlier, New Zealand has been able to reach the knockout stage thrice along with the other four best teams who got the third position.