The All Whites scored a goal against Australia for the first time in more than a decade on Tuesday night but still lost game two of the Soccer Ashes as a Socceroo netted a brace in Auckland.
Australia retained the Soccer Ashes with a 3-1 win at Mt Smart Stadium to go with a 1-0 victory in the first game on Friday in Canberra.
All Whites captain Chris Wood's second half goal, was the first time New Zealand had scored against the trans-Tasman rivals since 2010, but the hosts needed more.
Australia took a 1-0 lead into half-time courtesy of a 34th minute goal for striker Mohamed Toure who finished under All Whites goalkeeper Max Crocombe.
Watch the Socceroos vs All Whites replay on TVNZ+
A minute earlier Crocombe had pulled off a crucial diving save to deny Kye Rowles but he could not do the same against Toure.
The All Whites' best chance of the first half came just before the 40 minute mark when the man of the match from the first game, Socceroos goalkeeper Paul Izzo, was called into action to save a shot of Sarpreet Singh's which had deflected off the crossbar with the Australian custodian keeping out Tim Payne's shot off the rebound.
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Australia did not take long to double their score with a goal to young star Nestory Irankunda in the 54th minute.
Wood scored in the 57th minute from close to Izzo to give the crowd of 18,213 hope but Toure would restore the lead with his second goal three minutes later.
Toure thought he had a hat-trick just after the hour mark before VAR ruled it out.
Among the changes All Whites coach Darren Bazeley made to chase more goals was the introduction of the 645th All White, teenager Luke Brooke-Smith who was given 10 minutes to make an impression on his debut for the senior side before he heads to the Under-20 World Cup.
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