The Junior All Whites have given their FIFA Under-20 football World Cup confidence a boost with a 4-3 win over Nigeria at the Suwon Cup in South Korea.
Cameron Lindsay equalised after the African champions scored first midway through the first half and New Zealand took the lead after an hour when captain Nick Branch volleyed a Marco Rojas free kick.
The lead was short-lived as Nigeria scored two quick goals, the second with New Zealand temporarily down to 10 men through an injury to fullback Andrew Milne.
But Rojas equalised in the 71st minute and six minutes later Dakota Lucas pounced on a poor goalkeeper clearance to score the winner.
New Zealand's coach Chris Milicich says his side's made good progress after one goal losses to Uruguay and Korea.
The Junior All Whites start their World Cup campaign in Colombia on July 30 against Cameroon, who lost to Nigeria in the African final.
