Kevin Fallon: Players wiser for the return encounter

Photo / Greg Bowker

There is no doubt that the All Whites' 0-0 result in Bahrain looks like we can all get optimistic for the return leg in Wellington on November 14.

Having played against Bahrain, our players will be now be far wiser for the return encounter.

The pre-match speculation about our playing formation was all justified. New Zealand tried to adapt to a 3-4-3 formation for the first time. Going into the match there were some important questions: Would Leo Bertos spend too much time defending? Answer: Yes. Would we be able to accommodate three strikers? Answer: No.

It's difficult to please everyone, but sometimes hard calls have to be made with the playing personnel.

The real successes were the result and the officials. It is a long time since I have seen a better referee than Viktor Kassai, the Hungarian whistler. These days many referees want to take over the game and become the most influential person on the field.

Kassai was firm but unobtrusive - a model for our New Zealand referees. He cautioned Ryan Nelsen - when his obstruction stopped a very dangerous attack late in the game - and Mark Paston for alleged time-wasting. Otherwise he dealt with the occasion confidently.

As for the result: only a win or 1-1 away draw could have been better. An away goal could have spared us extra time and penalties with a 0-0 match in Wellington. Yesterday's game will give the All Whites heaps of confidence, having overcome the heat and humidity as well as most unfamiliar surroundings and all with virtually no crowd support.

In Wellington, I am picking that the home support will get the All Whites through. I doubt whether Bahrain will be looking forward to travelling so far from home and although they have two capable strikers in Jaycee John and Hussain Ali, neither managed to do the job on home turf. Salman Isa had the game's best opportunity, hitting the post in the 75th minute when he should have squared the pass to John. Ali also had a golden opportunity to score in the 46th minute, but he fluffed his volley one-against-one with Paston.

Mention also must be made of the tremendous Paston save in the 62nd minute, but he followed that up by floundering for the resultant cross seconds later.

This result should give Ricki Herbert the confidence to field a more cohesive team in Wellington with two wide players in McGlinchy and Bertos to deliver a steady stream of crosses to the attacking talent he has at his disposal.