Wood’s calm class was epitomised by the way he designed the opportunity from which he gave Forest the lead, a goal his coach Nuno Espírito Santo described as “beautiful”.
For my money, as a football tragic, Wood is the Kiwi sports person of the year for his endeavours in the highest echelon of the world game.
WINNERS: A-League goals … and this lesson for the NRL
Wins by Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix involved cracking goals.
These included Jake Brimmer’s classy finish against the ailing Central Coast Mariners, while Kosta Barbarouses and Paulo Retre let fly with wonderful long-range efforts against the Newcastle Jets.
Beyond the latest round of games … the arrival of a second A-League team has done wonders for New Zealand football, helped of course by Auckland FC’s league-leading performances.
Rugby league’s NRL might take note and be emboldened in its aims here. A Kiwi rival to the Warriors would revolutionise league and sport in this country and perhaps even tip rugby union into the abyss.
Another NRL franchise could also push the Warriors to lift their game, although sadly the mark of failure feels indelibly stamped on the 30-year-old Auckland club.
As a great rugby league man once opined on such matters, the rot appears to be embedded in the Warriors’ woodwork. Time for a revolution.
I can’t believe that Australian league boss Peter V’landys and his cohorts haven’t struck when the opportunities on this side of the ditch are so clear via a second New Zealand club.
A second team would also dramatically increase the pool of brilliant young Kiwi talent desperate to make it in the NRL. Or are the NRL bosses in cahoots with the underperforming Warriors, a flailing club clearly trying to protect its patch by keeping a second franchise at bay?
Very shortsighted, people.
WINNER: Cricket … but did Sam Konstas go too far for his own good
There has never been a test cricket debut like it.
In a matter of minutes, teenage Australian opener Sam Konstas turned the game on its head at the revered Melbourne Cricket Ground.
As the adrenaline flowed, it felt as if the test game had reached a watershed moment, of announcing itself fit for an exhilarating future that enchants rising generations.
Maybe that’s on overstatement, but this was still a debut never to forget.
Konstas had barely got to the crease before he was employing T20 style shot making including the ramp shot.
He was undaunted in this, even against the great Jasprit Bumrah, hitting a six and fours with trick shots despite missing two early attempts.
After his dismissal, he quickly engaged with the crowd in the tunnel, signing autographs and taking photos with fans. In the field, he played up to the crowd, leading them in song and dance.
It was like Brendon McCullum on steroids.
Truly unforgettable … and where would cricket be without Australia.
But did Konstas take it too far, has he set himself up for failure, is he riding for a fall? Hope not.
WINNER: The real star
India’s quick bowler Bumrah is receiving an avalanche of accolades after a series of masterclass performances in Australia.
His statistics are remarkable, including the best average by a test bowler with more than 200 wickets.
Bumrah’s unique whirly arm action is snaring test scalps at a touch under 20 a piece, putting him significantly ahead of West Indian legends Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, and Curtly Ambrose. The Aussies have found Bumrah virtually unplayable.
It’s not only his action that is unusual. Fast bowlers are often gnarly characters, (and even threatening in the past), but Bumrah takes almost everything in his stride and with a smile.
He did know when to break out of character though. After dismissing Konstas in the second innings, he mocked the young Australian’s cocky antics in the field.
WINNER: Netflix … in the memory bending age
The streaming colossus copped a few blows to its sports coverage designs with technical issues during the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul alleged fight.
But Netflix came up trumps with its NFL debut, as the three-year Christmas Day deal opened to record viewing numbers.
The Ravens-Texans and Chiefs-Steelers games went down a treat, although Beyonce seems to be hogging the headlines with her halftime show.
The brave new world is on a roll.
Long gone are the days when Kiwis fired up Sky TV for just about everything, including sport.
It’s getting harder to remember where things are going to appear, or what platform to keep watching a series on.
This could be an age issue of course.
WINNER: Mohamed Salah … and this EPL question.
Liverpool’s quick-footed wonder is truly magnificent.
Mohamed Salah starred as the runaway EPL leaders crushed West Ham, on what looks like an inevitable march to the title.
An emerging question is where will Salah be placed in the EPL pantheon?
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is universally regarded as the greatest of all EPL players and Salah is unlikely to unseat him. But the Egyptian could end up being Henry’s closest challenger, if he remains with Liverpool and carries on his current form for a couple more seasons.
His 17 goals easily lead the league this season, and 13 assists places him streets ahead of the other top marksmen. (Wood is fourth with 11 goals, plus one assist).
LOSER: Scottie Scheffler and maybe all of sport
It’s official: the world’s best golfer Scottie Scheffler has had a very weird year.
Not only was he arrested by an over-zealous cop during a major tournament, he has now suffered a quite serious hand injury while helping to serve Christmas dinner.
The double Masters champion and Olympic gold medallist needs surgery and will be out for a month.
Nothing seems to bother Scheffler, but there must be some concern that, long term, it will impact his game.
WINNER: Darts
The arrow chuckers take the sports entertainment business to incredible levels, stretching their world championship in London from mid-December to early January.
LOSER (almost): Chess
Norway’s chess genius Magnus Carlsen quit the world rapid/blitz tournament in New York because international bosses insisted that he could not wear jeans. What decade are these people in?
Carlsen rivals Garry Kasparov as the greatest player in history and is the game’s most important piece these days.
The chess federation quickly relented on its stuffy dress code - even the board brigade realise that in today’s world, player power is king.
LOSER: Kiwi sport
Thank goodness for the A-League. There’s not a lot else “local” to get enthused about at this time of year, apart from the big Auckland tennis tournaments where the Kiwi impact is usually minimal.
I’ve got an American friend who is stunned at the way New Zealand closes up around Christmas and New Year, (and he can’t believe the number of public holidays on our books either).
I defend this practice as both healthy, and integral, to our culture.
And America is famously shy when it comes to allocating holidays for employees.
But maybe, when it comes to sport, we take the annual shut down too far.
Then again, there is amazing sport from around the world to savour.
