Chris Wood sets New Zealand appearance record in humbling Haiti defeat

Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood has made history for New Zealand, becoming the nation's most-capped player. Wood made his 89th appearance for the All Whites during Tuesday's friendly against Haiti, moving one clear of the previous record holder, Ivan Vicelich.

Despite the personal milestone, the evening in Florida ended in frustration as New Zealand suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat. Haiti, ranked 82nd in the world, were clinical in their finishing, leaving the Kiwis reeling throughout the match at Chase Stadium.

It's not what we came here for. We're nowhere near where we wanted to be. We've got a lot of work to do in a short space of time. It's time for us to show our character and bounce back. Chris Wood

New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley admitted his squad received a "real harsh lesson" from a disciplined Haitian side. The defensive unit, which included Tyler Bindon, struggled to contain Haiti’s counter-attacking threat, conceding four goals in a single game for the first time since 2017.

The focus now turns to preparation for the upcoming World Cup, with the coaching staff looking to tighten up a fragile defense. Wood and his teammates face another major test this Saturday in Tampa, where they are scheduled to play England before opening their World Cup campaign against Iran on June 16.