Blues youngster Monty Patterson came off the bench in the 56th minute to win his second full cap as New Zealand beat Vanuatu 5-0 in their second game at the Oceania Nations Cup in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea this morning.
The All Whites scored all their goals in the first half with ex-Blues loanees Chris Wood (2) and Rory Fallon both on the scoresheet, having netted one apiece in Saturday’s opening game 3-1 victory over Fiji, in which Patterson started and made his senior international debut.
Wood, skippering in the absence of West Ham's Winston Reid, scored both his goals in the first five minutes before being subbed on the quarter hour with a shoulder injury.
Patterson, a 19-year-old midfielder or striker, who is yet to make a senior appearance for the Blues, returned to action for Town’s U21s in the closing weeks of the season having spent seven months out with a serious ankle injury.
New Zealand, who have already confirmed their place in the semi-finals, complete their group matches with a game against the Solomon Islands on Saturday, also in Port Moresby.
The tournament doubles up as Oceania's second round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, while the winner will represent the Oceania Football Confederation at the 2017 Confederations Cup, which like the World Cup will be in Russia.