The greatest games of the decade
Tom AdamsTom Adams offers his selection of the ten greatest games of the past decade.
Story | Conversation | December 15, 2009All Whites could be blanked
Mark Young, Special to ESPN.comNew Zealand could go winless in South Africa, as it did in 1982. Mark Young weighs in.
Story | Conversation | November 29, 2009New Zealand 1-0 Bahrain
New Zealand claimed their place at next year's World Cup finals with a pulsating win over Bahrain in the second leg of their play-off. Striker Rory Fallon headed home the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time, while goalkeeper Mark Paston also saved a penalty to see the All Whites through to South Africa. In front of a capacity crowd at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Saturday night, New Zealand repeated the efforts of the national team of 1982. The 35,194 boisterous fans, the largest crowd to watch a football match in New Zealand, made their presence felt with a continuous cacophony that started well before the opening whistle and continued long after referee Jorge Larrionda blew for full-time. The result gave the All Whites a 1-0 aggregate win following the goalless draw in Manama on October 10. The hosts were under early pressure conceding two corners and having defender Ben Sigmund yellow-carded in just the third minute. They gave Bahrain goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaffar his first test in the eighth minute when a Shane Smeltz header across the goalmouth from a Leo Bertos free-kick found captain Ryan Nelsen, but his looping header found the top of the net. Striker Chris Killeen almost broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when he sent a delightful left-foot volley from the edge of the penalty area beyond the Bahrain goalkeeper but off the crossbar. Soon after attacking midfielder Bertos, having made his presence felt with a number of early runs at the defence, sent a right-footed free-kick just wide of Jaffar's left-hand post. All Whites goalkeeper Paston was on hand on the half-hour to dive low to his left and deny a snap volley in front of goal by Bahrain front man Jaycee John. Jaffar then produced a superb reflex save from a goalbound header by Fallon with half-time closing in, with Bertos again involved in the play in providing the cross. But that was all in vain in the 45th minute when, from a Bertos corner, Fallon rose highest in the six-yard area to send a powerful header beyond Jaffar. On the balance of play the All Whites half-time lead was deserved, with Bertos and a Tony Lochhead providing most of the sting in the home side's attacking forays. The drama intensified in the 50th minute when referee Larrionda pointed to the penalty spot after Lochhead fouled Abdulla Ismaeel Omar. However, the combination of a poor strike from Sayed Mohamed Adnan and a perfectly-timed dive by Paston to his right kept the All Whites in front. New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen increasingly stamped his class on the match, organising the defence as the visitors pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Smeltz came close to doubling the tally with 20 minutes to play but his close-range strike flashed wide. Killeen then sent an overhead kick on the six-yard box high over the cross bar with nine minutes remaining. Desperate defending from All Whites pair Ivan Vicelich and Nelsen spurred the home side on in the closing minutes. In the end it was one shot for glory, and Fallon and New Zealand, took it.
Story | November 13, 2009New Zealand primed for date with destiny
Soccernet staffNew Zealand are at full strength and their stadium at full capacity for Saturday's decisive World Cup qualifier against Bahrain. Other than long-term suspended goalkeeper Glen Moss, All Whites coach Ricki Herbert should have a full squad to choose from for the Asia/Oceania play-off second leg, with the score poised at 0-0 from the first meeting in October in Manama.
Story | Conversation | November 09, 2009Gordon injury hands Marshall Scotland chance
Soccernet staffScotland assistant manager Terry Butcher has urged goalkeeper David Marshall to cement his place as Craig Gordon's understudy in the injured Sunderland man's absence in Scotland's friendly against Wales.
Story | Conversation | November 09, 2009Liechtenstein 0-2 Wales: Welsh end on a high
Wales ended a disappointing 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein in Vaduz on Wednesday.
Story | October 14, 2009Nelsen to lead New Zealand for World Cup play-off
ReutersNew Zealand have chosen a 19-man squad, captained by Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen, for next month's first leg of their World Cup play-off against Bahrain.
Story | Conversation | September 29, 2009Scotland's soul-searching begins
Neil McDougallNeil McDougall looks at the aftermath of Scotland's World Cup qualifying exit under George Burley.
Story | Conversation | September 10, 2009Wales 1-3 Russia: Pavlyuchenko goal adds gloss
Wales gave everything they had but Russia's greater experience took Guus Hiddink's men closer to the World Cup finals.
Story | September 09, 2009Lafferty misses crucial Northern Ireland qualifier
Soccernet staffNorthern Ireland have announced that Kyle Lafferty has lost his battle to be fit for Wednesday's pivotal World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.
Story | Conversation | September 08, 2009Scotland boss defends striker over SFA accusations
Soccernet staffScotland manager George Burley has attempted to reassure Chris Iwelumo that he is not being made a scapegoat for the country's World Cup qualifying struggles, following some pointed comments from Scottish Football Association president George Peat on Thursday.
Story | Conversation | September 04, 2009Ireland slams door shut on international return
Gareth MaherGareth Maher examines the impact of Stephen Ireland's decision not to return to the Irish squad.
Story | Conversation | September 02, 2009U.S. searching for a signature style
Luke CyphersIt's an eternal topic in soccer, and like all the great arguments in the sport, it's highly subjective: Has the U.S. established a national style of p...
Blog Entry | Conversation | September 02, 2009
Gordon out of Scotland squad for Norway test
Craig Gordon has been left out of the Scotland squad for next week's crucial World Cup qualifier in Norway.
Story | Conversation | August 04, 2009Now the work begins for Australia
Jason DaseyJason Dasey examines the strengths and weaknesses of the S Africa-bound Socceroos.
Story | Conversation | June 07, 2009EXPLORE RELATED TOPICS
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