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NZL vs TUN
ACUD Cup
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
New Zealand
vs
Tunisia
0(2)
FT
0(4)
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Final Shootout Score: 2 - 4
Another very familiar performance from the All Whites, who have failed to make their chances count and fallen to a penalty shootout defeat against Tunisia. Make sure you join us again this coming weekend for the resumption of the Premier League. It's been a pleasure bringing you all the action from Cairo tonight. For now, Harrison Ryburn signing out.
Next up for the All Whites is the OFC Nations Cup in June, and a chance to re-establish their authority against their Pacific rivals. That competition is set to take place in Vanuatu, and New Zealand are paired with the host nation in a group that also includes New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands. Meanwhile Tunisia resume their World Cup qualifiers with a visit from Equatorial Guinea and a trip to Namibia.
Tunisia too will probably feel a little bit frustrated that they couldn't find the back of the net either. That makes it three international fixtures for them without a goal, and just three goals from seven matches in 2024 thus far. They were caught out by the midfield press of New Zealand in the first stanza, and struggled to break out of their own half. A couple of changes from Louhichi got his team playing a little more expansively in the second half though, and momentum switched in their favour in the final twenty as the All Whites ran out of energy. Ben Said was brilliant in-between the sticks, denying Singh from the spot, and also pulling off a great save to deny Smith's earlier header. It proved decisive in Tunisia eventually getting over the line, but just like New Zealand, there'll also be more questions than answers from this international window.
The midfield was impressive for the All Whites again tonight despite the result, with Stamenic and Garbett continually winning possession high up the pitch through their high press. Rufer also didn't look out of place despite being called up as injury replacement for this window, whilst Singh was bright going forward despite missing the penalty. Bazeley will be happy with some of the football they played across this window, controlling matches and dictating the tempo against higher-ranked opposition. As is quite often becoming the case though, the major learning point is that they continue to lack a clinical touch up front.
Fulltime in Cairo and Tunisia claim 3rd place at the ACUD Cup by virtue of a penalty shootout. Again the All Whites will feel they've let a good result slip though, after missing a penalty in the first half, and diverting a number of other good chances wide. It's just a continuation of their poor track record in front of goal, and despite controlling large stages of the contest, particularly in the first half, they've failed to put the ball in the back of the net.
Ghram wins it for Tunisia! The substitute slots his penalty inside the top left corner, and despite Crocombe going the right way again, he fails to keep it out.
2
-
4
A. Ghram
Penalty
Good penalty from Rufer, and the midfielder powers his effort into the top right corner. Tunisia can seal the match if they slot the next one though.
2
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3
A. Rufer
Penalty