Blues youngster Monty Patterson won his 14th full New Zealand cap as the All Whites thrashed the Solomon Islands 6-1 in the first leg of their World Cup qualifier in Auckland this morning.
Patterson, 20, started and played the first 64 minutes as the New Zealanders put themselves firmly in the driving seat ahead of the second leg in Honiara in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The striker or midfielder created the fourth goal for PEC Zwolle’s Ryan Thomas, while ex-Blues loan striker Chris Wood, who moved from Leeds to Burnley last week, netted a hat-trick.
The teams previously topped their groups in third stage of World Cup qualifying from the Oceania Football Confederation with the winners of the tie facing the side which finishes fifth in South American qualification in an inter-confederation play-off in November for a place at the finals in Russia next summer.
Strong performance from the team yesterday 💪🼠happy to help chip in with an assist as well. #AllWhites pic.twitter.com/ZgqZDwbyHx– Monty Patterson (@PattersonMonty) September 1, 2017
Patterson, who has scored one international goal, made his senior debut for the Blues as a sub in last week’s Carabao Cup defeat at Crystal Palace.
Town defender Tommy Smith was initially named in the All Whites squad but pulled out due to the hamstring injury which is currently keeping him out of action.