Hudson delighted with All Whites display

The All Whites may have lost the friendly, but they emerged with credit for the way they played.

They restricted Mexico to few chances, and the goal they scored was superbly created by Deklan Wynne and finished by Marco Rojas.

New Zealand had been under some pressure to improve after a disappointing Oceania Nations Cup campaign in June, and Hudson took plenty of positives from the game.

He’s been encouraging his team to press their opponents and win the ball – tactics that paid off against Mexico.

Hudson said: “We have to give credit to our team, we have to give credit to our defenders and our midfielders, we won the ball high up the pitch and we caused them to make many mistakes, because of the way we pressed and put them under pressure.

“I’ve watched Mexico’s last 10 or 15 games in detail and I haven’t seen a team, other than Chile, who’s put Mexico under pressure like we did tonight.”

Mexico went ahead through skipper Giovani Dos Santos’ penalty, after Wynne fouled Hirving Lozano.

Wynne made amends early in the second half, his excellent cross giving Rojas the chance to poke home the equaliser.

Mexico restored their lead just before the hour mark through Marco Fabian.

Hudson was proud of his 88th-ranked side’s performance against a Mexico side who are 15th in the rankings.

“From our point of view this was a massive, massive performance and I think quite a few of us after the game were disappointed we didn’t get a result,” he said.

The All Whites will be without keeper Jake Gleeson for Wednesday’s friendly against the USA in Washington DC.

Gleeson has been ruled out after failing to recover from a minor groin injury.

New Zealand 11/1 to beat the USA, who are 1/4, with the draw available at 9/2.

Bet365