Hudson: All Whites are used to the tough places

Coach Anthony Hudson believes the fact the All Whites hardly ever play at home will work in their favour in Lima next week.

He said his side have played in a variety of challenging environments, adapting to different cultures and languages when taking on some top teams. And even if they haven't won, they have at least scored a goal.

Those tough experiences on the road will serve the All Whites well as they take on Peru in the second leg of their World Cup intercontinental playoff on Thursday afternoon, following yesterday's 0-0 draw in Wellington.

"We're used to playing away from home. We're looking forward to going to Lima," said Hudson.

Having achieved a result few thought likely against the world's 10th-ranked team, Hudson is confident his side can get the goal next week that could take them to the World Cup finals in Russia next year. Because if New Zealand score one, Peru will have to score at least two to qualify for their first finals in 36 years.

"We only need one goal. We've gone to some tough places and done that."

A draw against South American opposition, especially in such an important fixture, rates as one of the best results in New Zealand football history but Hudson was quick to play down the result.

"We're pleased with the performance and it's an incredibly good result for us but we've not achieved anything yet," said Hudson, whose stocks as a coach have never been higher.

Not conceding a goal yesterday was crucial for New Zealand's prospects.

"That was the most important thing for us but it's not a 90-minute game, it's 180 minutes, and we have to be in the game in the last 10 or 15 minutes in Lima."

When asked if he'd have taken a 0-0 draw before the match, Hudson said: "100 per cent. That's a really strong result for us. We don't need to chase the game now."

But Peru do. And while they boast a formidable home record, the longer the All Whites can keep them scoreless, the more anxious the 50,000-strong crowd will become and the more the pressure will build on players striving to end a World Cup drought currently stretching to eight tournaments.

Yesterday's result will build self-belief in the All Whites and Hudson was pleased with the way his team managed the game, when they have buckled and conceded goals when the pressure grew late in other recent matches, such as the friendly in Japan last month.

Hudson acknowledged his skipper Winston Reid - "he was outstanding this week as a captain and a leader" - but also praised the likes of Kip Colvey and Deklan Wynne, who lack big-match experience and haven't had much game time recently.

Hudson also paid tribute to the crowd of 37,000, particularly the way they sang the national anthem before the match.

"I was very emotional and I'm not even a Kiwi."

Peru coach Ricardo Gareca said the All Whites were well organised but his side should have won.

"New Zealand were very tough for us but we need to improve and we know we can play much better. But we deserved to get a little bit more. We had control of the game and could have scored," said Gareca through his translator Nolberto Solano, the best-known Peruvian player of his generation, who spent 10 years in the English Premier League, mainly at Newcastle.