The Oceania champions will now host Asia’s fifth placed qualifier Bahrain in the crucial return-leg on 14 November in Wellington to see who will go through to FIFA’s pinnacle event.
In what was the biggest football match for New Zealand since 1982, the All Whites managed to control their nerves and settle into the game well at Bahrain’s National Stadium.
With a three-pronged attack in Chris Killen, Shane Smeltz and Rory Fallon, the Kiwis took a direct approach and looked the more physical side but had to be wary of Bahrain strikers Hussain Ahmed and Jaycee Okwunwanne who showed plenty of pace.
The first half was a tight affair with possession shared and very few chances falling to either team. Bahrain’s best opportunity came in the 20th minute when Okwunwanne blazed the ball wide of Mark Paston’s left post from just outside the area after Simon Elliot had given away possession moments earlier.
Paston spent much of the first period as a spectator but was called into action in the second half as the hosts enjoyed better ball possession and started to dictate the pace of the game.
Salman Isa missed a gilt-edged chance in the 75th minute when he rounded the All White keeper but struck the ball into the post. Okwunwanne had been waiting unmarked in the box and clearly showed his frustration at the midfielder for not turning the ball square.
Fouzi Aaish and Mohammed Hubail prompted excellent saves from Paston while another Okwunwanne strike was deflected away for a corner after a desperate defensive lunge by Ben Sigmund.
New Zealand also had their opportunities with substitute Chris Wood putting the ball in the back of the net in the 72nd minute only to be called back for offside. Killen, who was solid throughout, had his 74th minute shot sail just wide then went close five minutes later with an acrobatic effort from a Michael McGlinchey cross.
Despite late pressure from the Bahrainis, the All Whites held on for the draw with expert leadership shown by Ryan Nelson.
The Kiwis will take confidence into the second-leg which is scheduled for 14 November at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium. New Zealand last competed in a FIFA 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 showpiece event.
The tiny Gulf nation, with a population of a little over a million, came agonizingly close to playing in the FIFA World Cup four years ago but lost to Trinidad and Tobago at the same stage and at the same venue.
2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
First Leg
Bahrain 0 New Zealand 0
Saturday 10 October
Bahrain National Stadium
Second Leg
New Zealand v Bahrain
8pm, November 14
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Tickets: www.oneshotforglory.com or 0800 TICKETEK
New Zealand: 1-Mark PASTON (GK), 4-Ben SIGMUND, 6-Ryan NELSEN (Captain), 5-Ivan VICELICH, 11-Leo BERTOS, 3-Tony LOCHHEAD, 8-Tim BROWN (12-Michael MCGLINCHEY 68), 7-Simon ELLIOTT, 9-Shane SMELTZ, 14-Rory FALLON (13-Chris WOOD 66), 10-Chris KILLEN,
Substitutes not used: 2-Aaron SCOTT, 15-David MULLIGAN, 16-Andrew BOYENS, 17-Andy BARRON, 18-James BANNATYNE (RGK).
Coach: Ricki Herbert
Cautions: Mark Paston, Ryan Nelsen
Bahrain: 1-Mohamed Jaffar, 5-Mohamed Ahmed Hubail, 6-Jayece John, 7-Sayed Mahmood Jala, 9-Husail Ali Ahmed, 10-Mohamed Ahmed Salmeen, 12-Faouzi Mubarak Aaish, 14-Salman Isa Ali (13-Mahmood Abdulrahman Mohamed 79), 15-Abdulla Ismaeel Omar,16-Sayed Mohamed Adnan, 17-Husain Ali Mohamed
Substitutes not used: 2-Mohamed Husain Mohamed, 3-Ahmed Hassan Rashed, 4-Abdulla Baba Fatadi, 8-Aala Ahmed Hubail, 11-Ismaeel Abdullatif Ismaeel, 18-Abbas Ahmed Ali
Coach: Milan Marcala.