Otago has warmed up for the Milk Cup with a stunning 1-0 win over English Premier League club Stoke's development side.
Riley Anderton scored the only goal of the game at the Rivertree Avenue Academy ground.
It was a spectacular way for the Otago youth side to announce its arrival in the United Kingdom before the Milk Cup tournament begins in Northern Ireland.
The 1-0 win was all the more remarkable given illness had ravaged the team. Coaches Neil Mackenzie and Andy Duncan were forced to remain at the team's base at Manchester University while the team travelled down to Stoke.
The Stoke side was made up of boys trying to gain professional contracts with the Premiership club, but they were immediately on the back foot against a fast-starting Otago side.
Anderton gave his team the perfect start when, from an intelligent ball through the middle from Connor Neil, he rocketed a ball inside the post to send the Otago boys into an early celebration.
Neil nearly added a second when he beat three players in a mazy run towards the goal and hit a bullet of a shot that rattled the crossbar.
Otago keeper Josh Dijkstra then made a couple of good saves to protect Otago's lead.
Captain Peter Coates also produced an inspirational performance for Otago, while Daniel Gruppelaar and Andrew Taylor were tireless in the midfield.
Stoke pressed for an equaliser but the visiting side held firm, and Otago had another good chance to score late in the game, when Ryan Mawhinney showed good control and speed to get past two players and drive a cross into the box. Callum Smith showed tremendous composure to dummy the ball through his legs, leaving Malcolm McIver with a first-time shot that was saved.
With the coaches sidelined, the team was guided for the day by manager Matt Scoles and physiotherapist Dusty Quinn.
''I couldn't be prouder,'' Quinn said.
''The boys stuck to everything we asked of them, and the systems and protocols that Neil and Andy have set in place over the last six months were simply played out in unison by all the boys.''
Otago's next warm-up game is against another big name: the Manchester City academy.
