Blues youngster Monty Patterson won his sixth full cap as New Zealand lost 2-1 to Mexico in the opening friendly of their USA tour in Nashville overnight with former Town loanee Giovani Dos Santos among the scorers.
Midfielder or striker Patterson, 19, came on as a sub in the 58th minute, shortly after Marco Fabian’s winning goal for the Mexicans.
Earlier, Dos Santos, who spent the end of the 2008/09 season on loan with the Blues from Tottenham and now plays for the LA Galaxy, put Mexico ahead from the penalty spot in the 29th minute before Marco Rojas equalised for the All Whites a minute after the break.
Two more ex-Town loanees were also involved for New Zealand with Chris Wood starting and Rory Fallon a late sub.
The All Whites take on the USA in another friendly in Washington DC on Tuesday.
Speaking last week, manager Mick McCarthy said he is pleased with Patterson’s progress but that he’s not yet in his thoughts for the senior side.
"He’s doing all right at U23s level, he’s doing fine, but he’s not pushing to get a position in front of the other lads at the moment,” he said.
Elsewhere, Christophe Berra was an unused sub as Scotland drew 1-1 with Lithuania in a World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park, James McArthur netting an 89th minute equaliser. Scotland are in action again on Tuesday when they face Slovakia in Trnava.