Academy midfielder Monty Patterson was in the starting line-up as New Zealand’s U20s lost 2-1 to Croatia in their final game at the Panda Cup in China this morning.
The 17-year-old, who starts a two-year scholarship with the Blues this summer, helped put his side in front in the sixth minute when an opposition defender turned his freekick past his own keeper.
Patterson, who was winning his sixth U20 cap, was replaced in the 68th minute, having come on as a second-half sub in the Junior All Whites’ previous Panda Cup games, a 1-0 defeat to China and a 0-0 draw with Brazil.
The four-team competition was part of New Zealand’s preparations for next year’s FIFA U20 World Cup, which they are hosting.