The All Whites are still waiting for a statement performance on home soil.
In one of their biggest tests here in recent years, New Zealand were beaten 2-0 by Finland at Eden Park in the first match of the Fifa Series.
It was a credible effort – but one that won’t be nearly good enough at the upcoming World Cup.
They took too long to get going on attack – only finding their flow in the second half – and were exposed badly for the first goal, which changed the momentum of the match.
Finland opened the scoring through captain Joel Pohjanpalo in the 25th minute – a simple header from a corner – before sealing the win in the 85th minute through Janakko Oksanen on the counter attack.
New Zealand had chances, with substitute Jesse Randall going closest and Ben Old lively but Finland also hit the crossbar in the second half.
It’s another lesson for this All Whites group, given what they will face in North America, as they didn’t bring the intensity and steel required, especially in the first half.
The All Whites were missing some of their big guns – particularly Chris Wood, Liberato Cacace, Sarpreet Singh and Michael Boxall – but still had plenty of talent out there.
This was a rare event – the first match against a European team here since 1991.
World No 75 Finland might only be classed as a middleweight from that region but they looked well drilled and sharp, showing the benefits of regular matches at that level.
Bazeley went for an in form starting XI, with Ben Old and Ben Waine given starts and Elijah Just in the playmaker role, while Max Crocombe was preferred in goal.
The All Whites made a nervy start – with some uncertain touches – before settling into their work. Waine had an early chance, after being released by Just but lifted his shot from distance over the bar.
Old looked sparky on the left – but his cross couldn’t find Callum McCowatt, while Francis de Vries tested the Finnish defence with a couple of trademark swinging crosses.
There were some nice moves – with one touch passing and movement to escape trouble – but less so in the congested final third.
As the half progressed Finland found more space, on both flanks and through the middle, where they were a shade quicker.
But they hadn’t tested Crocombe until the opening goal, which by international standards was poor. Pohjanpalo made a clever run – but was in acres of space at the far post to make the most of a precise corner delivery, with de Vries and Waine failing to stop his run.
The All Whites came closest through Tim Payne – who was otherwise having a difficult half – as his angled 20 metre shot was just wide of the far post, after a Waine knockdown.
But the Europeans had the best chances to end the first period; the energetic Pohjanpalo had a shot deflected over the bar by Tyler Bindon, before Crocombe was alert at his far post after Oliver Antman got free at another corner. De Vries – who has been the indestructible man this season – was replaced by James McGarry – just before the break after feeling a calf strain.
The All Whites were re-energised to start the second half, pressing higher, committing numbers forward. They built more pressure, without clear cut chances.
Only an outstanding Finn Surman block prevented a second Finnish goal, after the All Whites had been over elaborate in their own half.
Bazeley rolled the substitutes – including debutant Lachlan Bayliss and Auckland FC winger Randall as the match stretched out.
Just directed his shot straight at the keeper, then delayed his pass a fraction too late, as Randall made a dangerous run.
But Finland should have extended their lead, as midfielder Leo Walta hit the cross bar from 25 metres, with Crocombe well beaten.
Randall was then agonisingly wide, from a tight angle, as he tried to bend his shot inside the far post, after beating his marker with a clever dummy.
But as the All Whites committed men forward, they were caught out by a swift break, with Oksanen managing a simple finish from a pull back to end any local hopes.
All Whites 0
Finland 2 (Joel Pohjanpalo 25’, Janakko Oksanen 85’)
Halftime 1-0