All Whites Dominate Malaysia 4-0 in Homecoming Match at North Harbour Stadium

The All Whites marked their return to Aotearoa with a commanding 4-0 victory over Malaysia in an international friendly at North Harbour Stadium, their first home match of 2024.

Under the guidance of head coach Darren Bazeley, the All Whites fielded a strong team, making only four changes from the squad that secured a 3-0 victory over Tahiti in Vanuatu on Friday during their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

In goal, Alex Paulsen earned his first home start, replacing Max Crocombe, while Michael Boxall, Storm Roux, and Ben Waine stepped in for Nando Pijnaker, Tim Payne, and Chris Wood. With Wood unavailable, Liberato Cacace captained the team for the first time on home soil.

The All Whites took control from the outset, creating numerous chances during the first half. The closest opportunity came when Ben Old unleashed a curling shot that forced a solid save from Malaysian keeper Syihan Hazmi. However, the breakthrough remained elusive in the first half.

The second half saw the All Whites intensify their pressure, with Malaysia struggling to cope with New Zealand’s pace and aggression. The deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute when Liberato Cacace, the standout player of the match, delivered a precise cross to Eli Just, who slid in to score his second goal in two games.

Just eight minutes later, it was 2-0, with Cacace once again providing the assist. He cut back a pass to the edge of the box, where Matt Garbett calmly placed a shot into the bottom corner.

The crowd of over 8,000 fans erupted in the 62nd minute as Chris Wood entered the field to replace Ben Waine. Within 10 minutes, Wood added his name to the scoresheet with a clever header—his 36th international goal for the All Whites.

Logan Rogerson wrapped up the scoring in injury time with a sensational strike from the edge of the box, sending the ball into the top corner for the final 4-0 result. His performance gave a thrilling preview to Auckland FC fans ahead of their upcoming match.

This emphatic victory marks a successful homecoming for the All Whites as they prepare for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Vanuatu and Samoa next month in Hamilton and Auckland. Fans can book their tickets for the upcoming matches through Ticketek.

Final Score:

All Whites – 4 (53’ Eli Just, 61’ Matt Garbett, 72’ Chris Wood, 90’ Logan Rogerson)
Malaysia – 0

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