Uzbekistan gave the All Whites the runaround at the Pakhtakor Stadium in Tashkent on September 8, downing New Zealand 3-1 as Anthony Hudson's reign as coach of the Kiwi team began in a manner which will greatly aid the newcomer's appreciation of where improvements are required to be made. The visitors were second best for long periods of this match, with the Uzbekistanis' use of the ball a feature of a contest which took a while to get going. Just three efforts on goal were mustered inside the opening half-hour, with Glen Moss' goal the first to be threatened in the fourteenth minute. New Zealand's custodian punched Server Djeparov's free-kick off the head of Farkhov Tadjeiv on this occasion, but it was a headed effort at the other end of the park five minutes later which came within inches of bringing about the opening goal. Chris James' angled free-kick from the left found Chris Wood rising above all-comers on the far post. His downward header looked a goal for all money until Uzbekistan goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov plunged to his left to pull off a fine reflex save while behind his own goal-line - crucially, the ball wasn't. The All Whites went close again six minutes later, a lovely flowing move featuring Storm Roux, James, debutant Thomas Doyle, Tyler Boyd and Michael McGlinchey culminating in a rasping angled eighteen yard drive from Costa Barbarouses sizzling narrowly past the right-hand post of the diving figure of Nesterov. That served as a warning shot across Uzbekistan's bows, one the natives heeded. For not long afterwards, they began to dominate proceedings, with Djeparov, the captain, and Odil Ahmedov bossing the middle of the park. In the 33rd minute, Shavkatjon Mulladzanov picked out Azizbek Haydarov, who quickly brought Djeparov into play. His angled ball in behind the defence found Sanjar Tursunov homing in on the far post, from where he unleashed a drive which Moss was well placed to block. The All Whites' 'keeper kept out two swerving twenty-five yarders from Ahmedov over the course of the next six minutes, then dived to smother a dipping long-range effort from Timur Kapadze five minutes before half-time. Sixty seconds later, Uzbekistan were celebrating their first goal of the game, which, it must be said, had been coming, such was their momentum. Tursunov led the charge out of his own half before playing the ball inside to Ahmedov. He lobbed the ball forward for Djeparov to control, and as he did so immediately raced forward in support of his captain, who supplied his fellow midfielder with a delightful lay-off which Ahmedov met first time on the run and fair slammed into the top right-hand corner of Moss' net from the edge of the penalty area with such venom that the 'keeper was still diving for it when the ball rebounded off the netting. It was a goal Uzbekistan fully deserved, and they went close to doubling their lead through fullback Vitaliy Denisov on the stroke of half-time, after Ahmedov, Haydarov and Djeparov had combined to good effect. Uzbekistan wasted little time in endeavouring to build on their advantage after the interval, with Tursunov, half-time substitute Navruz Alimov and Ahmedov all going close inside the first ten minutes of the second spell. The last-mentioned achieved his country's objective in the 58th minute, doubling Uzbekistan's advantage with a thumping angled drive which flashed past Moss en route to the corner of the net after Ahmedov had worked a one-two with Alimov.

Only a fine save at the feet of substitute Sardor Rashidov by Moss prevented the Djeparov-inspired home team from further increasing their lead eight minutes later, with the All Whites very much under the cosh and hanging on for dear life during this phase of the match. The storm wasn't over, however. Five minutes later, Ahmedov invited Rashidov to take on Doyle - New Zealand's left flank was a particular source of pleasure for Uzbekistan's attackers throughout this match, with many a raid down the right seeing them make significant in-roads just about every time. On this occasion, the All Whites' newcomer was beaten all ends up by Rashidov, who promptly let rip a twenty-five yard drive which screamed narrowly past the diving figure of Moss and the far post - close this most definitely was. Thirteen minutes from time, Uzbekistan bagged a third goal, and from the team's perspective, it was the best of the lot. Shukhrat Murkhamadiev, Ahmedov, Alimov and Kapadze all played a part in a right-wing raid which culminated in the last-mentioned finding himself in space in the penalty area near the by-line from where he pulled the ball back towards the penalty spot. Djeparov was first to react, checking his stride and swooping on the sphere, which he drilled unerringly past the wrong-footed figure of Moss to score a goal the captain's performance fully merited. It wasn't the game's last strike, however. Uzbekistan removed some of their star performers from the fray eight minutes from time, which was the cue for the All Whites to attempt to seek some form of consolation from the game on the scoreboard. Winston Reid's ball forward wasn't cleared by the Uzbekistan defence, allowing substitute Jeremy Brockie to swoop. Nesterov was well placed to smother this effort, but after Moss had splendidly turned an Alimov drive round the post at the other end of the park, the black-clad All Whites were celebrating an 86th minute goal which gam them some respectability on the scoreboard. It was the identity of the scorer which was the real shock. It has taken Brockie some 44 "A" internationals to finally find the net for the All Whites, but find it he did to silence the natives near the end. McGlinchey ignited the raid, his ball forward deftly flicked on by Wood into the stride of another debutant, substitute Joel Stephens, whose direct running had the retreating Uzbekistant rearguard in a bit of a dilemma. As Stephens penetrated the penalty area, the home team's rearguard produced a pincer movement which stifled his progress. But the newcomer was still able to squeeze the ball across to Brockie, who stabbed home a goal which, while far from pretty, will forever rank highly in the scorer's most memorable footballing moments. Uzbekistan shut up shop after this to ensure the 3-1 victory, as they continue their preparations for the 2015 Asian Cup Finals in Australia. The All Whites' principle goal is far more long-term - Russia 2018, under the guidance of Anthony Hudson, who will take much from this match ahead of the All Whites' next international engagements, which have yet to be confirmed in November. Uzbekistan:     Nesterov; Murkhamadiev (Vuldashov, 87), Mulladzanov, Ismailov, Denisov (Mustafaev, 82); Tursunov (booked, 62) (Rashidov, 64), Haydarov, Ahmedov (Shodiev, 82), Djeparov (Samfiev, 82); Kapadze, Tadjeiv (Alimov, 46) All Whites:     Moss; Roux, Reid, Durante, Doyle (booked, 15); McGlinchey, Tuiloma (Howieson, 81), James (Brockie, 63); Barbarouses (Stevens, 81), Wood, Boyd (Payne, 63) Referee:     Rayshan Ermatov (Uzbekistan)