KEY POINTS:
It was always likely that a Shaw goal would win the day for New Zealand in the Olympic qualifying tournament. But, as one wag said after yesterday's dramatic 3-2 win over Argentina, the wrong Shaw got it.
While most would have backed world-class drag flicker Hayden Shaw to convert the last-ditch deadlock-breaker, it was younger brother Brad who turned show-stopper.
Playing his 57th game for his country, Brad, 24, scored only his second international goal.
As he lined up the shot which would send the Black Sticks to the Olympics, Brad said later that a lot went through his mind.
His chance came when a mess-up at the top of the circle appeared to have cost New Zealand their opportunity to snatch a late victory. A mis-trap saw the ball spring wide. It was played back in and Brad swooped.
"I was wondering if time would be called and whether I should hit high or low," said Brad. "I just smacked it."
And dived for cover as he was swamped at the bottom of the pile by his teammates and then spectators to signal the start of unprecedented celebrations which also produced two decent haka from the players as a token of their appreciation for the crowd's support.
As a teacher, Brad had gambled on winning a place in Beijing when he asked for a year off from Christchurch's Mairehau Primary School.
"With the uncertainty, it would have been unfair to accept a permanent position and then ask for so much time off," said Brad.
"So I took the year off and will just do relief work either in Christchurch or up here this year."
It could not have been a better day for the Shaw brothers. Hayden, 27, would not have played had it not been such an important game as he was struggling with a very tender achilles injury. He bravely battled through.
"It was great," said a beaming Brad later.
"He got one. I got one. What more could you ask?"
Nothing.
