New Caledonia 1 New Zealand 3
KEY POINTS:
In 1982, an unlikely bunch of expats and Kiwi-born footballers achieved what was dubbed the Impossible Dream.
Now, 26 years later, the latest brand of All Whites are just one step away from completing a more Realistic Dream.
Last night, Ricki Herbert's side booked a place at next year's Confederations Cup in South Africa and the US$1 million that goes with it.
But, more importantly, they also qualified for a home-and-away playoff against the fifth-placed Asian qualifier next year for a spot at the 2010 World Cup. They are now just 180 minutes from a second appearance at the world finals.
"I started dreaming about it when I was appointed to the job [in 2005]," said Herbert, who was a young, mustachioed centre back who helped the All Whites navigate 15 matches to qualify for Spain 1982.
"The aspiration and dream of getting back there has always been there. This side will give it the best shot they can over that 180 minutes. We have got a real chance."
It will not be an easy assignment, certainly a lot more difficult than winning the Oceania group. And it is not outside the realms of possibility the playoff will be against Australia, who fled Oceania in 2006 for the ample bosom of Asia.
The task now for New Zealand Football is to ensure the All Whites are given a build-up thorough enough to give them every chance of qualifying for the World Cup.
Given the tightness with which the cash-strapped national body is holding the purse strings, it will be a difficult balancing act.
Nothing, though, would give football in this country a lift like getting back on the world stage. The Confederations Cup will help but the World Cup is the ultimate.
"This is fantastic for the game in New Zealand," Herbert enthused.
"In less than 12 months' time, this team is going to be playing Spain, Brazil, Italy ... you name them [at the Confederations Cup]. It will filter down. We have a lot to look forward to in the next 12 months."
Last night, the All Whites were almost at full strength for the first time since the 2004 Adelaide debacle, with Ryan Nelsen back in the heart of defence.
It prompted New Caledonia coach Didier Chambaron to rate his side's chances of causing an upset at 1000-1, despite the fact that at 95, they are 16 places higher than New Zealand in the much-maligned Fifa world rankings.
The All Whites, playing in an all black strip, quickly asserted their dominance, taking the lead when centre-back Ben Sigmund scored his first international goal. He stabbed home from close range in the 16th minute after New Caledonian keeper Jean Marc Ounemoa dropped a Nelsen header from a corner.
New Zealand completely controlled proceedings in the first half, happy to adopt a patient approach as they played the ball out from the back, but couldn't find a second goal that would have killed off the home side's chances. Some of their passing was neat but their crossing from the flanks was, at times, poor.
Les Cagous were much better in the early stages of the second half, playing with more intensity and purpose, and equalised in the 55th minute when Michel Hmae neatly finished a flowing move through the middle of the park.
For a few minutes, the All Whites looked rattled but striker Shane Smeltz calmed the nerves 10 minutes later when Jeremy Brockie nodded down a Jarrod Smith cross for him to lash home from 5m.
After that, the result looked beyond doubt and Smeltz made sure of it in the 75th minute when he rifled home from the edge of the area.
The Phoenix striker has made a habit of scoring for both club and country lately and last night he continued a remarkable record for the All Whites that has seen him score in each of his last five internationals. It leaves him just one game short of equalling the record of Keith Nelson, who scored 10 goals in six consecutive internationals in the late 1970s.
It was also done the day after the birth of Smeltz's second daughter, which he missed to play last night's game. "It's been good," Smeltz said with obvious understatement.
The All Whites still have two qualifiers to play, including the return game against New Caledonia at North Harbour Stadium on Wednesday night and the delayed 'home' match against Fiji in Lautoka in November, but they are little more than academic.
The real prize awaits with next year's playoff. The dreaming can begin in earnest.
New Caledonia 1 (M. Hmae 55) New Zealand 1 (B. Sigmund 16, S. Smeltz 66, 75). HT: 0-1.
