Away goal the key for All Whites - Fallon

All Whites to take on Bahrain for World Cup

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New striker Rory Fallon says an "away goal" in Bahrain is vital to the All Whites' chances of making next year's World Cup finals.

Fallon won a penalty and later scored on debut with a 45th minute header in New Zealand's 3-1 win in Jordan yesterday morning.

The 27-year-old forged a promising partnership with ace sharpshooter Shane Smeltz, who netted the other two goals.

The All Whites will travel to Manama for the first leg of the Asia-Oceania World Cup playoff after a last-gasp injury-time goal allowed Bahrain to draw 2-2 in Saudi Arabia yesterday and win through on the away goals counting double rule.

New Zealand scored all three goals after centreback Ivan Vicelich was sent off for a stupid deliberate handball offence in the 44th minute.

But Fallon, a 1.90m tall targetman from English second tier club Plymouth Argyle, and head coach Ricki Herbert both acknowledged the All Whites would have to be better against Bahrain in Manama on October 10 and in Wellington on November 14.

"It's good to get off the mark and see your striking partner scoring as well," Fallon said.

"We can't complain with the three goals, but we know it's going to be a lot tougher against Bahrain. We watched them the other night and they look a really strong team. It's going to be really important to get that away goal."

Fallon now has a chance to achieve a rare family double. His father, Kevin Fallon, was assistant-coach of the 1982 All Whites, the only New Zealand team to qualify for a World Cup finals.

Herbert said he was very impressed with Fallon on debut.

"There were a lot of things outside of his control tonight, but his stature and height gives us options. I was delighted. Scoring on debut is a big coup for him."

Herbert said scoring three goals in the Middle East against a good Jordan team was a great sign for the World Cup away leg. The 1982 All Whites' centreback said Jordan were a "good side" who had "certainly been a difficult side for most countries to beat" in Asia's World Cup qualifying stages.

But Jordan are ranked 129th in the world, 29 places below the All Whites, and were criticised in their home press for a goalless draw against a purported Malaysia under-23 team last weekend.

Herbert knows Bahrain, who thrashed Jordan 4-0 this year, will be much stronger.

The Bahrainis, ranked 68th in the world, have shown their mental resilience by recovering from a 0-0 draw at home to draw with Saudi Arabia 2-2 yesterday.

A 12th-minute goal to Nasheer Al Shamrani gave the Saudis an early lead but Bahrain equalised in the 40th minute through Jaycee John.

The 70,000-strong Riyadh crowd was celebrating after Hamad A-Montashari powered a header home in stoppage time. But Ismail Abdullatif equalised almost instantaneously when he nodded home Salman Isa's corner, to put his team through on the away goals rule.

CUP QUALIFIER

First leg: In Manama, October 10.

Second leg: In Wellington, November 14.

- © Fairfax NZ News