New Zealand vs India Player Ratings: Jesse Randall shines & Pramveer disappoints in FIFA International Friendly clash
The All Whites thrash Blue Tigers 5-0 in Auckland.
Go Media Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand hosted the first FIFA International Friendly clash between home team New Zealand and India.
The Blue Tigers were coming after defeats to Brazil and Uruguay whereas the All Whites remained winless against Japan and Panama in the last international window.
The Blue Tigers had a tough start to the game after Bijoy Varghese scored an own goal in less than 300 seconds. India kept pushing for that equaliser but the hosts were in no mood to slow down the pace of the game and settle for a slender win.
Instead, New Zealand went on to score the next two goals after Randall scored in the last 10 minutes of the first half. By first half, the All Whites were leading 3-0 against an Indian side that had no answers.
The second half was all about salvaging some dignity in foreign soil but things became even worse as Nottingham star striker Chris Wood made it 4-0 before Bayliss scored a volley to find the fifth of the night.
The hosts also earned a penalty late in the game to score half a dozen goals but Kaith saved it.
The match ended 5-0 as New Zealand thrashed India in Auckland.
New Zealand Player Ratings (by Saikat Sengupta)
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Alex Paulsen – 7.5/10
The Motherwell custodian was successful in keeping a clean sheet against an Indian side that scored against other World Cup playing nations like Uruguay and Panama.
He had a relatively easy day at work as the Indian strikers lacked that fire to score tonight.
Callan Elliot – 8/10
The Auckland FC defender was a menace from the right flank. He was seen sprinting forward and creating chances.
He gave an assist to Chris Wood via a spectacular cross from the right flank that saw the hosts scoring the fourth of the game.
Nando Pijnaker – 7/10
The centre back was playing in familiar territory in Auckland.
He kept the Indian strikers quiet as New Zealand registered a clean sheet at home against India. He was subbed off in the 80th minute to make way for Boxall.
Bill Tuiloman – 7/10
The Wellington Phoenix defender got the better of Indian strikers like Ryan Williams and Manvir Singh as New Zealand won the game 5-0 against India and also kept a clean sheet.
He however missed a penalty against India’s Kaith that could have made things even worse for India.
Francis De Vries – 8.5/10
Francis was brilliant from the left wing tonight. He kept making those accelerated and overlapping runs to set up Jesse Randall upfront.
He even gave an assist to Randall for the third goal of the game as New Zealand made it 3-0 before the first half.
Lachlan Bayliss – 8/10
The Auckland FC midfielder took a brave shot that was well saved by Vishal Kaith that led to the buildup of the first goal.
In the 75th minute, he took a volley and Vishal Kaith had no answers as the All Whites made it 5-0 against India.
Matthew Garbett – 7/10
The Peterborough United midfielder gave a brilliant assist to Randall for the second goal of the game.
Alex Rufer – 7/10
The Wellington Phoenix midfielder was brilliantly orchestrating the play from the centre of the park.
He held the team’s midfield properly and ensured that the tempo of the game was high that well suited New Zealand.
Logan Rogerson – 7/10
Logan was tasked with the responsibility of keeping the possession and neutralising counter attacks from India during transition plays and he did that so very well.
Chris Wood – 8/10
The Nottingham Forest striker was heavily marked tonight. But when Elliot gave a dangerous cross from the right flank, Wood had a free header and the Nottingham striker made it 4-0 for the hosts.
Jesse Randall – 9/10
The left winger was spitting fire tonight. In the buildup to the own goal, it was Randall who gave a cross before Varghese smashed it into his own net.
He scored two consecutive goals and his brace helped New Zealand win 5-0 against India.
Substitutes
Liam Gillion – 8/10
He came in as a substitute and had a brilliant game. Gillion was seen dribbling and his magical skills in the final third as he gave an assist to Bayliss in the final quarter of the game.
Michael Boxall – 7/10
The Minnesota United midfielder came in late in the last ten minutes and had a decent outing for a short span.
Matthew Sheridan – 7.5/10
A sliding tackle from Akash Mishra saw Matthew falling in the D box and the referee wasted no time in pointing towards the spot kick for New Zealand.
Corban Piper – 7.5/10
He came in as a substitute to replace captain Chris Wood upfront. He carried the momentum so well that New Zealand seemed hungry for goal even in the final minutes of the game.
James McGarry -7/10
Another Wellington Phoenix player who came in as a substitute when New Zealand made a series of changes after they were leading by a handsome margin.
Callum McCowatt – 7/10
Callum, who plays for Danish side AGF had a decent outing after being subbed on near the hour mark.
Owen Parker Rice – 7/10
Owen also had a decent game after coming on as a substitute.
India Player Ratings (by Jeremy)
Vishal Kaith: 6.5/10
The lone warrior. He pulled off a flying save to deny Matt Garbett’s half-volley and charged off his line to smother Wood’s one-on-one. He also took a painful blow to the neck blocking Randall, and kept out Bill Tuiloma’s penalty and the follow-up header.
Five goals conceded, but none of them his fault, and it could have been far worse without him. In fairness, Tuiloma’s effort was tame, but Kaith read it and reacted instantly when the rebound fell.
Abhishek Tekcham: 4.5/10
Withdrawn at the break after a first half in which India’s defensive line was repeatedly stretched. The records show little positive contribution, and he was part of a back four that conceded three before the interval.
Pramveer: 2/10
A night to forget. His clearance at the first goal ended up ricocheting in off a teammate, and his failure to clear before half-time handed Randall the third goal on a plate.
He did close down Wood well in one first-half moment, but the two errors define his evening.
Bijoy Varghese: 2/10
Cruelly unlucky on the own goal, but he was also left behind by Randall’s pace for the second, and he was involved in a first-half flashpoint with Bayliss.
Taken off at half-time, a decision that said plenty about how the first 45 minutes had gone.
Akash Mishra: 4/10
The handball that gave away the penalty was a needless risk, and he is lucky Kaith bailed him out.
He did offer some attacking intent with a neat cross for Manvir and a long throw, but the defensive lapse overshadowed it.
Anirudh Thapa: 5/10
Captained the side after scoring against Uruguay, but never imposed himself on a game that slipped away early.
He was a rare calm presence in possession, yet the midfield could not protect the back four.
Lalremtluanga Fanai: 2/10
A first start for his second cap, and a difficult one. There was nothing to point on as his individual contribution, and he was withdrawn at half-time.
A harsh introduction against a side with real physicality and pace.
Jithin MS: 2/10
Not a great outing for the NorthEast winger as well. His combination with Ryan Williams was the Blue Tigers’ best early move, and he released a low cross at 8th minute and attempted another counter-attacking delivery on 32.
But often he was overcrowded, lacked partners in the box, and was seen confused and under-confident. And when the game demanded him to trackback and aid the defense, he failed in that aspect as well.
Ryan Williams: 4/10
Not a great day for Williams in a land familiar to him. He had some moves, linking with Jithin and driving into space late on.
But he also lost possession in the build-up to a dangerous New Zealand counter, and his late run was snuffed out by a well-timed tackle from McGarry.
Liston Colaco: 3/10
Took the shots India needed, but the 51st-minute free kick was comfortably gathered by Paulsen and his effort before the break lacked power and placement.
Initiated for movements, but yet again, the much needed end product was never seen from him as well. Replaced by Sanan on 66th minute.
Manvir Singh: 2/10
A striker starved of service. When the ball did arrive, as in Williams’s first-half cutback, his first touch let him down, and the chance to get his head to Mishra’s cross went begging.
Substitutes
M. Suhail: 4/10
Introduced at the break with the game already out of sight, thereby giving his debut. He came on into a collapsing structure and had a forgetful first experience.
Mehtab Singh: 4/10
Another half-time arrival who could not stem the flow.
India conceded twice more in the second period and gave away a penalty. Though there were some individual brilliances, making some tackles and stops.
Jay Gupta: 4/10
Same story as Mehtab, came in, made some blocks, but yet again couldn’t prevent an already sinking ship from a humiliating full time score.
Ricki Meitei: 4/10
Ricki also had his debut today.
Again, not the kind of day a player would like to have his first appearance for his nation. He too was not able to make some significant change in the game which was long lost by the entire unit.
Hnamte: 5/10
Conceded two goals, but his addition made midfield more stable while comparing to the first half.
The player went to box, and had his efforts to make things better and defended when it was needed.
Tomba Singh: 4.5/10
Same story as above. A tough assignment for any defender, and the late goals will not reflect solely on him.
Md Sanan: 4/10
Not the kind of performance expected from a fresh, pacey winger.
There were rumours prior the game that the Blasters’ winger was injured. But his pass for Akash Mishra down the left created India’s best late chance, and he released Williams behind the defence soon after.
David Lalhasanga: 4/10
Same story as Sanan. Came in, had some pressing actions. But barring that, nothing impactful from the player as well.
Tomba Singh: 4/10
Just as other substitutes, he too had a day to forget. A late shot from distance was the only thing worth to remember from the player.
What was the score line of the New Zealand vs India?
India lost the game 5-0 against New Zealand
Who were the top performers in New Zealand vs India?
Francis De Vries and Jesse Randall were the top performers as the latter scored a brace against India.
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