New Zealand suffered a heart-breaking stoppage-time defeat to hosts Chile at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup but Wellington Phoenix forward Nathan Walker enjoyed an unforgettable moment.
A 97th-minute goal saw New Zealand go down 2-1 to Chile in their World Cup Group A opener in front of more than 45,000 spectators on Sunday (AEST).
New Zealand thought they had earned a share of the spoils when Phoenix youngster Walker – who made his Isuzu UTE A-League debut last season – converted a 85th-minute penalty, within a minute of his introduction but a goal seven minutes into stoppage time left the visitors emptyhanded.
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“It was a great spectacle. There was some great football played on both teams,” head coach Chris Greenacre said afterwards.
“On another day we might have got something out of the game.”
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Wellington gun Lukas Kelly-Heald captained New Zealand in a starting XI that also boasted Phoenix team-mates Luke Brooke-Smith, Fergus Gillion and Xuan Loke, while Auckland FC pair Codey Phoenix and Finn McKenlay were also in the line-up.
Next up for New Zealand is a clash with Japan on Wednesday (AEST).
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