New Zealand, Cape Verde lose in setback to World Cup preparations

New Zealand and Cape Verde suffered setbacks to their World Cup preparations on Friday in Auckland, losing to Finland and Chile respectively in friendlies. Hosts New Zealand were beaten 2-0 while World Cup debutants Cape Verde went down 4-2 and had a player sent off. New Zealand will face Belgium, Iran and Egypt in the group phase this summer in North America.

The All Whites were missing Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood, who is still returning from injury, and with it went much of their goal threat against Finland. The Finns did not qualify for the World Cup. Their captain Joel Pohjanpalo opened the scoring in the 25th minute, leaping highest at a corner to head home. Jaakko Oksanen added a second in the 85th minute, firing under goalkeeper Max Crocombe after a swift counter-attack.

In the earlier match, Cape Verde were reduced to 10 men in a wild encounter with Chile, who did not qualify for this summer's extravaganza. Cape Verde play Spain, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in their World Cup bow. Ben Brereton Diaz gave Chile a controversial lead in 17th minute, lashing home after the referee restarted play from a drop ball when the Cape Verde defence wasn't in place. Dailon Livramento struck back four minutes later for Cape Verde, Benfica's Sidny Cabral overlapping down the left wing before crossing across the face of goal, leaving an easy finish.

Defender Diney Borges was red-carded on the stroke of halftime after the VAR flagged an inadvertent handball which was deemed to be preventing a goal scoring opportunity. Despite that it was Cape Verde who then took the lead, Cabral firing home off the inside post as the half came to a close. Chile equalised in bizarre circumstances in the 58th minute, goalkeeper Vozinha needlessly rushing out for Cape Verde, allowing Maximiliano Gutierrez to round him and fire home from 40 yards. Felipe Loyola and Gonzalo Tapia added further goals for Chile.