KEY POINTS:
Predictions that New Zealand would be outclassed at the Under-20 World Cup were allayed in their first outing at this level in Toronto yesterday.
The Dan Keat-led Kiwis left the artificial pitch with some credit after holding Portugal - two-time under-20s world champions to a 0-2 scoreline.
Both
goals came from set plays.
With a slice of luck, and better finishing, the New Zealanders could have even snatched one or two late goals.
That would have embarrassed the star-studded Portuguese who have players at top professional clubs including Porto and Sporting Lisbon.
On paper, however, it did not make pretty reading for the Stu Jacobs-coached side.
They had only 36 per cent of possession, trailed the shot count 17-5 and conceded five corners to two. In reality they were better than that.
Forced to defend for long periods, the plucky Kiwis never gave up.
Jacob Spoonley in goal was the pick. Rarely called on to make telling saves, he was nevertheless accomplished in all he did and was given no chance with either of the two goals.
The first, from a free kick conceded by Ian Hogg on halftime, was planted in the top corner of the New Zealand goal by Portugal captain Bruno Gama.
The second, on the hour came when Hogg was adjudged, somewhat belatedly by Colombian referee Hernando Buitrago, to have brought Gama down in the box, and sent him to the spot.
He was ordered to take the penalty twice but made no mistake.
While slowed by the onset of cramps after chasing players such as Fabio Coentrao, Gama, Pele and Mano, the Kiwis stuck manfully to their task.
Obviously handicapped by the yet-to-be-explained late withdrawal of key midfielder Chris James who returned to England hours before the tournament kicked off, the New Zealanders refused to yield.
Late half-chances for Jeremy Brockie and Greg Draper could have slowed Portugal's expected charge to the tournament's second phase.
The eyes of the footballing world were on the Oceania champions with fears that sub-par efforts would add to pressure from the bigger confederations to slam the door on direct entry to such tournaments.
Yesterday's effort at the National Stadium appears to have eased such concerns with the Fifa website tagging New Zealand's showing as "quite encouraging".
Jacobs quickly put the game behind him and was looking forward to Friday's clash with Gambia - a match both teams must win to keep their hopes of progressing alive.
"We want to be seen as a results-based team," said Jacobs. "Fifa people here are pleased with the credible way we played. Now we want to go on and get a result against Gambia.
"The players have seen they can be competitive against one of the best teams in the world. We are seeded 24th here," said Jacobs. "They [the players] question that. So do I."
The coach said he was likely to select a team very close to that which faced Portugal for Friday's clash which means designated captain Jack Pelter is again likely to be on the bench.
Gambia lost their opening game 3-0 to Mexico in yesterday's late game.
