Soccer: All Whites draw with Bahrain

The All Whites are 90 minutes away from a place in the World Cup after a goalless draw in Manama this morning. Photo / AP

MANAMA – The All Whites held an unrelenting but distinctly unlucky Bahrain to a goalless draw in the first-leg of the 2010 World Cup Asia/Oceania play-off in Manama this morning (NZT).

Bahrain missed at least four clear chances of scoring while the Kiwis defended stoutly and emerged unscathed with their goalkeeper Mark Paston the hero.

Bahrain enjoyed better ball possession, dictated the pace of the match but could not find the target to give meaning to their overall domination.

The second-leg is scheduled for November 14 in Wellington with the winner booking a berth for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

New Zealand last competed in a World Cup way back in 1982 with their present coach Ricki Herbert a member of that team while Bahrain are yet to play in the soccer showpiece event.

The tiny Gulf nation, with a population of a little over a million, came agonisingly close to playing in the World Cup four years ago but lost to Trinidad and Tobago at the same stage and at the same venue.

Nigerian-born Jaycee John made the first realistic attempt at goal for Bahrain in the 20th minute from about 15 metres outside the penalty area but his shot lacked direction.

Four minutes later Hussain Ali made good use of a through pass in the penalty area and though he beat defender Ben Sigmund by going around him, the delay in taking a shot at goal cost him dearly.

A-League top scorer Shane Smeltz and Celtic's Chris Killen spearheaded most of the All Whites' moves with captain Ryan Nelsen overlapping the midfielders and supplying most of the passes.

But time and again the duo found the Bahrain defenders, the tall Sayed Mohammed Adnan and Hussain Baba in particular, hard to beat.

The unfamiliar and unforgiving hot and humid weather conditions, with the apparent temperature hovering close to 40 degree Celsius, also took an early toll on the visitors, who though taller and stronger than their Bahraini rivals clearly struggled to keep pace.

Bahrain came close to scoring twice within the first two minutes of the second-half.

First striker Salman Isa shot into the hands of Kiwi goalkeeper Paston after receiving a fine headed pass into the penalty area from captain Mohammed Salmeen and a minute later Mohammed Hubail shot over the bar after a series of quick-fire passes.

Another chance came and went in the 63rd minute when Fouzi Aaish charged into the penalty area from the left and did well to beat Chris Killen but his shot was brilliantly saved by Paston.