Midfielder Jack Hobson-McVeigh scored in injury time to put the Young All Whites through to the knockout stages of the U-17 World Cup. Photo / Getty Images
A stunning injury time goal by Jack Hobson-McVeigh earned New Zealand a historic place in the knockout stages of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Calabar, Nigeria, today (NZT).
The Young All Whites trailed runaway Group D leaders Turkey 1-0 at the end of 90 minutes when Birkenhead midfielder
Hobson-McVeigh picked the ball up 35m out.
He beat his marker before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner of the Turkish goal sparking wild celebrations from teammates and staff.
It was New Zealand's third consecutive 1-1 draw in pool play.
"I'm extremely proud of this bunch of young men because they have represented New Zealand with absolute pride tonight," New Zealand coach Steve Cain said.
"I think people in New Zealand can be very proud of a team that's gone through an entire group stage of a World Cup unbeaten and I think that's a record that's going to take some beating in the future."
Both side had goals disallowed in the opening stages with Ahmet Sari fouling Coey Turipa as he beat the Kiwi goalkeeper to a high ball while New Zealand captain Gordon Murie was ruled offside when following up a parried shot from a Andrew Milne, who also had a first half shot cleared off the line.
But their was no chance of Turkey's stand-in captain Engin Bekdemir having his effort ruled out when in the 17th minute his shot cannoned off an unlucky Adam Thomas and past the wrong-footed Turipa.
Turipa needed to be at his best to keep out a second half free kick from Bekdemir and then was superb again late on to deny the PSV Eindhoven midfielder scoring from the edge of the area.
Cain introduced Tim Pilkington and Nikolai Molijn from the bench in the three pronged attack to chase the equaliser but with time ticking away on the Young All Whites campaign it was Hobson-McVeigh who found the back of the net and clinch the history-making progression to the next round.
- NZPA
