All Whites go down 4-0 in pre-World Cup friendly against Haiti

Goalkeeper Max Crocombe of New Zealand dives against Haiti — All Whites goalkeepr Max Crocombe dives against Haiti. Photo: www.photosport.nz

The All Whites’ penultimate game before the Football World Cup barely showed their hand but got minutes in the legs of the majority of the squad.

A 4-0 loss to Haiti on Wednesday came after a half hour delay to the start of the match in Fort Lauderdale due to lightning.

Haiti were ahead 1-0 at half-time.

In temperatures approaching 30 degrees Celsius, and with players at different levels of fitness after their club seasons, New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley made mass changes in the second half including a switch in goalkeeper with Alex Paulsen making way for Max Crocombe as the battle to be the number one continues.

New social media star Tim Payne was also subbed at the break, making way for A-League champion Callan Elliot from Auckland FC at right back.

In a nod to the new Fifa rule for the World Cup, a hydration break was held at the 35th minute in the first half and the in the 77th minute which allowed players to rehydrate in the heat and both coaches to impart some tactics.

At world number 83 Haiti are the closest ranked side to New Zealand (85th) at the World Cup and this warm up game was an opportunity for the two countries play each other for the first time at any level.

After a win in their last outing against Chile in March, the New Zealanders will be disappointed to not have had a closer result against a closer ranked opposition.

Starting up front for the first time in since November last year was captain Chris Wood for his 89th cap to overtake Ivan Vicelich as the men’s all-time leading appearances for the All Whites.

Wood got just over an hour of game time as he makes his way back to full fitness after missing a large chunk of the club season with Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League dealing with a knee injury.

The All Whites last warm up game before the World Cup is against world number 4 England on Sunday morning.

See how the game unfolded below:

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.