Fallon sends New Zealand to World Cup

New Zealand booked their first berth in the World Cup finals since 1982 on Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Bahrain in an intercontinental play-off second leg.

After constant pressure in the first half, big striker Rory Fallon got his head to a Leo Bertos corner kick just before the stroke of half-time to give the All Whites the lead.

Bahrain, who had a chance after the first leg of the tie in Manama ended 0-0, saw a great opportunity to equalize go by the wayside when a poorly-taken penalty by Sayed Mohamed was saved well by goalkeeper Mark Paston.

New Zealand had the first great chance when Celtic striker Chris Killen wrapped a shot off the bar on 20 minutes, and Bertos saw a free kick go agonizingly wide just a few minutes later.

Bahrain, though, forced Paston to be alert just past the half-hour when Jaycee John’s volley was parried away by the quickhanded Kiwi.

New Zealand continued to press and got their reward just before the break as Bertos’ outswinging corner found Fallon in the danger area, and his size advantage helped him fire past goalkeeper Sayed Jaffer.

It looked, though, that Bahrain would get level with a crucial away goal in the 52nd minute when Tony Lochhead tripped up Abdullah Omar in the area for a penalty.

But Mohamed hit his effort without much conviction, and Paston dove low to his right to make the save, sending the crowd of over 35,000 in Wellington into ecstasy.

New Zealand kept up their attack after that, and Bahrain never really looked dangerous in the final third, the home side actually coming close to a second late on.

After three minutes of stoppage time, Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda blew the final whistle on a famous victory for New Zealand football, and they now look forward to 4 December’s draw in Cape Town.