New Zealand 1-0 Bahrain
New Zealand are heading to their first World Cup finals in 28 years
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By Alistair Potter. |  |
Saturday, 14, Nov 2009 03:30
By Matt Hallam.
New Zealand qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time in 28 years with a 1-0 win over Bahrain in Wellington.
It was winner takes all in the second leg of the qualification play-offs after a 0-0 draw in the first-leg, with Bahrain hoping to qualify for the first time and New Zealand looking to reach the finals of the tournament for the first time since 1982.
Plymouth Argyle's Rory Fallon scored the decisive goal at the end of the first half with a powerful header from Leo Bertos' corner.
Bahrain flooded forward after the break and were awarded a penalty when Abdullah Omar was brought down by Tony Lochhead.
However, Sayed Mohamed Adnan could not beat Mark Paston who dived to his right to save and secure a historic victory for the All Whites.
Bahrain made a confident start in front of the boisterous home crowd with forward Jaycee John seeing plenty of the ball and Salman Isa sending a shot into the side netting.
New Zealand soon found their feet though and threatened from set pieces as defender Ben Sigmund headed over and Celtic forward Chris Killen sending an effort straight at Bahrain keeper Sayed Mohammed Jaffer.
Killen came agonisingly close to putting the home side ahead after 20 minutes when he swivelled in the box and sent a half-volley crashing off the crossbar after captain Ryan Nelsen had knocked down a long free-kick from the back.
The All Whites then threatened from another free kick as Bertos sent a curling shot inches over the angle of the goal.
Bahrain had struggled after their impressive start but came back into the game on the half hour when John hit a fierce volley from the edge of the box which Paston managed to get a hand to. The ball almost fell Mohamed Salmeen but the New Zealand was alert to the danger and managed to scramble the ball to safety.
New Zealand recovered well though and it took an excellent one handed save from Jaffer to deny Fallon. Bertos made good ground down the right and picked out the Plymouth Argyle striker, however, he couldn't beat the Bahrain keeper.
Jaffer was left with no chance on the stroke of half-time though as Fallon sent a thumping header into the net from Bertos' corner.
Bahrain came out after the break looking for the equalising away goal that they knew would send them through to South Africa. John and Abdulla Baba Fatadi combined well on the edge of the New Zealand box but John failed to get power on his shot and Paston was able to gather easily.
The visitors were then given the perfect opportunity to level the scores when Omar was brought down in the box by Lochhead. Adnan stepped up to take the penalty but saw his effort saved by Paston who got down quickly to his right to make the vital stop.
New Zealand had the opportunity to take a commanding 2-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining when Bertos sent in a low cross from the right. Shane Smeltz got to the ball first but sent his shot a yard wide.
Bahrain flooded forward in the final 10 minutes as they looked for a match-winning equaliser, however, their efforts were in vain as New Zealand defended doggedly to secure their passage to South Africa next year.