Fallon goal seals an All Whites father-son legacy

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE IN WELLINGTON

THE Fallon name became indelibly linked to New Zealand's World Cup history when Rory headed the All Whites winner against Bahrain last night to send them to the finals 27 years after his father Kevin helped oversee the first appearance by the Kiwi footballing heroes.

The 27-year-old striker got up to head a Leo Bertos corner into the back of the net in the 45th minute of a pulsating qualifier in Wellington.

Fallon wasn't alone with his heroics. Kiwi goalkeeper Mark Paston saved a second-half penalty as the All Whites desperately held on to win the dramatic match and claim a place in next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.

Three minutes before his goal Fallon had another header denied by a wonderful reflex save from Sayed Mohamed Jaffar. But the Bahrain goalkeeper had no chance off the corner as the big Plymouth Argyle forward rose high to claim his second goal in just three games for New Zealand.

The All Whites looked dangerous with their height off any set-pieces in a strong northerly wind that swirled around the Cake Tin.

The stadium was a predictable whiteout as the crowd of 35,194 got behind their team by dressing in their colours and providing rapturous support.

Kevin Fallon was among them as the 1982 All Whites were guests of honour.

But this is a new era with Ryan Nelsen's side having earned their own respect now.

It was a disaster for Bahrain who jetted into New Zealand in luxury but fly out empty-handed. Bahrain bowed out at the final qualifying hurdle for the last World Cup when they were upset by Trinidad and Tobago. This time it was Oceania, the minnows of world football, who caused their frustration.

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert masterminded a wonderful two-leg series against Bahrain. Now he and his assistant Brian Turner, two veterans of the 1982 side, get to taste World Cup finals football again.

Simon Elliott couldn't get over his injury to start and Michael McGlinchey came into the New Zealand midfield in the only change to the side that earned the 0-0 draw in Manama on October 10.

They stuck with the same radical 3-4-3 formation but looked more comfortable with it and noticeably tried to get Leo Bertos far more active on attack.

Bahrain showed their intent early, forcing two corners in the first two minutes and then earned a handy free kick after defender Ben Sigmund was yellow-carded for a tackle.

New Zealand were dangerous off their early free kicks, Nelsen heading over the top and then Chris Killen thundering a shot into the crossbar. Bertos sent a third just over the top with a direct shot.

Paston was forced to make a good save off Jaycee John on the half hour and then at the feet of Mahamed Salmeen.

But New Zealand gave as good as they got and eventually Fallon found the back of the net to give the All Whites their lead just inside halftime.

Disaster struck four minutes after the restart when Jorge Larrionda, the Uruguay referee, awarded a controversial penalty for a Tony Lochhead tackle on Abdulla Ismaeel Omar.

But Paston stunned the visitors when he dived low to his right to deny Sayed Mohamed Adnan's spot kick.

Andy Barron replaced McGlinchey in the 63rd minute as New Zealand looked to refuel a midfield coming under increasing pressure.

Bertos continued to trouble the Bahrain defence and set up a good chance for Shane Smeltz that went just wide. Fallon and Killen had further shots as New Zealand kept plenty of play at the right end of the field. Killen came off seven minutes from the end for Chris Wood.

The pressure started to tell on the visitors as they were forced into mistakes. That included a costly challenge on Paston in the dying stages when they threatened to score off a deflected free-kick.

Smeltz had two other chances just off target in a tense three minutes of added time.

- © Fairfax NZ News