Subject: [NT] Rossiya

Today we will play a U21 match against Rossiya. It wasn't easy to find good U21 players at NZ (Gilbert is 22years old now)..but we will see how they new players play.

This tactic is a test. I hope the tactical discipline wouldn't be against us :)

The team in arbitrary order:

Matthew Alves
Ben Townsend
Dave De Bruin
John Kilkenny
Robert Smith
Matt Graham
Gary Edwards
David Watts
Mark Kelly
Ben Tomlinson
Alex Richards
Corey Matthews
Matt Hawkey
Rob Morcombe
Jeff Donoso
(edited)

Rossiya U-21 - New Zealand U-21 0:2

We won! :) We controlled the match from start till the end. Only 1 shot against us! So, I think the tactic was good...our defenders where mutch better then the strikers/wingers so no problem :) Kelly and Richards played a great match on the midfield..they runned alot for the team..and they were also good in the duel :) I'm disappointed at Matthews his performance..he needs better technique to become a NZ star.. his job was to kick the corners and free kicks..but we only got 1 freekick :( Bad new for Matt Hawkey, big injury for him :( BUT our strikers played a nice match! Nice run work from youngster Morcombe and the goal/debut from Donoso.

We are going up in the world ranking again ^^
(edited)

Yes yes, I thought Mark Kelly played particularly well.

Pleased that Watts didn't look out of place amongst defenders a whole year older than he is.

Yeap, very nice match from Mark