All Whites v India: Surman’s homecoming, Wood’s drought-buster and a city demanding more
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Finn Surman of New Zealand celebrates his goal against India at One NZ Stadium, Christchurch. Photo / Photosport
Jason Pine runs through the six key takeaways from the All Whites’ 3-0 victory over India in Christchurch.
The (03) must go pro
Canterbury turned out in big numbers to welcome the All Whites back to the region for the first time since 2012. The day
before the game, hundreds queued for a signing/selfie session with squad members and the game itself was sold out. With a terrific new stadium, a passionate football community and a solid population base, A-League bosses need to earmark Christchurch as an expansion market in the next few years.
Finn’s up
The last time Finn Surman played in Christchurch, he was a gangly teenager taking his first, tentative steps down the road to professional football. He returned as a fully formed, top-class defender with a ceiling as high as that of One New Zealand Stadium. Scoring the first goal was a fitting, full-circle moment for the Selwyn United product.
Like father, like son
Michael McGarry had a long and distinguished football career, including 54 games for New Zealand and a catalogue of eye-catching attacking moments. He was on hand to watch son James McGarry score his first international goal, with McGarry jnr steering home a first-half strike with all the composure of his father during his prime. He’s got a bit of work to do to match his dad’s dozen All Whites goals, but you have to start somewhere.
The last line
The one Indian player to emerge from the two-game series with an enhanced reputation was goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. After a string of saves in Auckland (including keeping out Bill Tuiloma’s penalty), he was again to the fore in game two, keeping a second-half clean sheet and the scoreline as respectable as possible in the face of constant New Zealand attacks. By contrast, his opposite Alex Pauslen could count his touches on the fingers of one glove.
Back on target
It had been a strangely barren time for Chris Wood coming into this window, having not found the net for New Zealand in his last nine matches. Our all-time leading men’s goalscorer broke that drought in Auckland and added another here to continue his inevitable march towards 50 international goals, a feat he’s now just three away from achieving.
Baze bids farewell
It must have been a challenging week for departing head coach Darren Bazeley, as he did the 101 things he’s done dozens of times for the last time. The brutal reality of professional sport is that coaches come and go, but that doesn’t mean they – and those they leave behind – don’t feel natural human emotions when they say goodbye. The team he’s guided for the last three-and-a-half years sent him off in fine style.
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