Soccer: Fallon delivers one shot for glory

Striker Rory Fallon gets above the Bahrain defenders to head the most important goal of his life. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Man-of-the-moment Rory Fallon walked into the post-match media conference after New Zealand's epic World Cup win over Bahrain proudly wearing a T-shirt proclaiming: "White is the New Black."

Not one of the 35,194 fans - apart, maybe, from the small group of Bahraini supporters who had long gone, would have disagreed.

In front of a sea of white, the All Whites came up trumps. In the world's greatest sporting arena, a soccer team outstaged the national rugby team who, a short time later, scored their ever-predictable win in Milan.

Put the All Whites' triumph in perspective. New Zealand, 1-0 winners in the second leg of a cut-throat winner-take-all contest, overcame the odds to send their higher-ranked, and super-confident, opponents packing. Just how crucial that 0-0 away result in Manama a month earlier was became quickly evident.

Fallon, 27, son of Kevin Fallon, who as John Adshead's assistant had almost 28 years earlier plotted the All Whites' ground-breaking foray on to one of the biggest stages in world sport, was the goal-grabbing hero.

But, as he later agreed, he was far from alone in emerging as a star in one of the truly great nights in New Zealand sport.

Goalkeeper Mark Paston deservedly picked up the man of the match award. His $10 million save of Sayed Mohamed Adnan's 51st-minute penalty was a defining moment and followed his earlier effort in denying Bahrain superstar Jaycee John what could have been a game-breaking goal on the half-hour.

For the purist, there have been better football matches, but this was a lot more than just another game.

This was their "One Shot For Glory" - a catchy theme dreamed up by an advertising guru over a pint and in discussion with NZ Football.

The confident Bahrainis hit the pitch running, forced two corners in as many minutes and a third soon after. They chased the early goal they so desperately wanted. It did not come and by the end their enthusiasm waned - outplayed by a more determined and resilient home team.

Chris Killen came closest early but his attempt hit the crossbar. Leo Bertos fired a free kick over the same bar.

When Fallon met a Bertos cross with a powerful header in the 41st minute the fans roared in anticipation. Goalkeeper Sayed Mohamed Jaffar pulled off a great save. Three minutes later he could not repeat the heroics.

From just the third corner, of the only four New Zealand won, Bertos fired a pin-point ball into the boiler room. Up went Fallon, his head meeting the ball perfectly to crash it into the net. The crowd erupted, the players played out the minutes to the break knowing extra time and the away goals rule was now out of the equation.

Five minutes after the break, crisis time. Tony Lochhead got some of the ball but part of Abdulla Ismaeel Omar's foot as well. The referee pointed to the spot - a soft call. Up stepped Adnan. His shot to Paston's right was weak. Paston gleefully dived on the ball.

New Zealand spirits soared.

Coach Ricki Herbert was always confident. "It's all about these boys. They never stopped believing."

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

* The last of the 32 teams for the 2010 World Cup will be found later this week.

* Fifa will conduct its seeded draw in South Africa on December 4 with the teams split into eight groups of four.

* New Zealand Football board meets next month to decide future planning including the build-up to the June-July finals.

* The split in the payout - the final figure will not be known until some time after the World Cup - has already been decided by New Zealand Football in consultation with the players and their agents.