Soccer: In-form strikers dreaming of winner

Shane Smeltz has scored 14 goals in his last 15 games for the All Whites. Photo / Getty Images

Strikers can often have that glazed look, as if they're in a faraway land many miles away from where they really are.

More often than not, they are picturing themselves scoring the winning goal and Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen and Chris Wood all admit they have dreamed of scoring the winner in Saturday night's crucial World Cup qualifier against Bahrain.

For Wood, it's almost like it's pre-ordained.

"It's a header from a cross... from the right... from Leo Bertos... in the 87th minute... to win 1-0," the 17-year-old West Bromwich Albion striker says a little dreamily.

"I would be a liar if I said I hadn't played that in my mind a couple of times over the last three or four weeks after the [first] Bahrain game. It would be an amazing feeling to score the winning goal."

If Wood is to be the hero, he will more than likely have to do it from the bench. Smeltz, Killen and Rory Fallon will operate in the same three-pronged attack that started in the first leg in Manama as part of a 3-4-3 formation, leaving Wood on the bench.
He almost snatched a late winner coming on as a substitute in the 0-0 draw in Manama but his goal was disallowed for a marginal offside decision.

Smeltz and Killen come into the match with almost identical records - Smeltz has 17 goals in 30 internationals while Killen has 17 in 35 - but Smeltz has the better recent record with eight of New Zealand's 14 goals so far in qualifying. He has also scored 14 goals in his last 15 internationals.

He was less forthcoming than Wood about the exact nature of his winner against Bahrain, however.

"Hopefully I can show you in a couple of days," he said. "It's something you run through [your mind]. Whether it's a club game or international game, you tend to think about it beforehand. I'm sure everyone is the same.

"You think about banging one in and taking us through. It's something that we have worked towards for a long time.

"I'm just really looking forward to it. It's been a long time coming. Ever since we played the last game over there [in Bahrain] it's been on my mind every day. It's just great it's finally here."

Smeltz certainly comes into the match in good form. Not only has he been scoring regularly for the All Whites but he was also last season's A-League golden boot winner and Player of the Year. He is already leading the A-League scoring charts this season for the Gold Coast with 11, three ahead of former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, and just one short of last season's tally.

It has been a remarkable three years for the German-born, Australian-raised Smeltz. As recently as 2006 he was struggling to find a club, playing non-league football in England for the likes of AFC Wimbledon before a double against Wales in a 2-2 draw turned his career around.

He might not have seen that coming but he hopes his dreams come true on Saturday night.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY