New Zealand reaches WCup for 1st time since '82

By STEVE McMORRAN
AP Sports Writer

WELLINGTON, New Zealand(AP) — New Zealand reached the World Cup
for the first time since 1982, beating Bahrain 1-0 Saturday
night behind Rory Fallon’s goal in the 44th minute.

The teams had played a 0-0 tie at Manama on Oct. 10 in the first
leg of the home-and-home, total-goals playoff between the
Oceania champion and the fifth-place team in Asian qualifying.

New Zealand went 0-3 at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, getting
outscored 12-2 by Scotland, the Soviet Union and Brazil.

Fallon, who played for an England youth national team, headed
Leo Bertos’ corner kick past goalkeeper Sayed Jafaar, who had
saved his header moments earlier.

“I was just praying that wasn’t my last chance,” Fallon said.
“Then Leon put in a great ball, and with those I don’t miss.”

Bahrain, which has never appeared in the World Cup, lost a
playoff to Trinidad and Tobago four years ago. It could have
tied the aggregate score in the 50th minute – and moved ahead on
away goals – but Sayed Adnan took a weak penalty kick that
easily was saved by goalkeeper Mark Paston, who fell on the
ball. It came after Tony Lochhead brought down Abdulla Omar in
the penalty area

“I basically just guessed which way he’d go, and the ball ended
up in my hands,” Paston said. “It’s a bit surreal really.”

New Zealand qualified in gale force winds and bitter cold before
a crowd of 35,000, the largest ever for a soccer match in the
nation. Kiwis coach Ricki Herbert was a defender on New
Zealand’s 1982 World Cup team.

“I’m speechless,” Herbert said. “This group of players has given
everything to achieve this dream, everything over the last four
years. It’s incredible. We’re back. We’re there. South Africa.”