Bahrain: One goal is all we need

All Whites take on Bahrain

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A Bahrain fan cheers prior to the World Cup 2010 qualifier.

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Bahrain coach Milan Macala believes the World Cup decider against New Zealand will be much more open than their first encounter but feels one goal might be enough to kill off the All Whites.

He also claims Ricki Herbert's Kiwis have more pressure on them because of their home advantage.

The two countries battle for a place in next year's World Cup finals when they meet in Wellington on Saturday night.

New Zealand held Bahrain to a scoreless draw in the opening leg in Manama.

They were two tentative teams. Now, with everything at stake, goals are going to be a vital commodity.

The match could come down to a penalty shootout but Macala feels he has the strikers to get the job done.

"Neither of us knew much about the other side before the game, but now we're aware of each others' playing style," he told the Fifa website in previewing this week's deciding game.

"We've watched a number of their friendlies, and obviously they gleaned some information about us from our play-off against Saudi Arabia. That said, I don't know how representative that match really was, as both teams played very cautiously and were afraid to make a mistake."

"There will be plenty of opportunities in the away leg. I expect it to be an open game but think that one goal may be enough for us. That said, we never make it easy for ourselves."

Bahrain have the advantage of the away goal rule that will double the value of any strike that finds the back of the New Zealand net.

Macala, the 66-year-old Czech who has made a living out of coaching in the Middle East, says his side need to pick up where they left off in Manama.

"We were the better side in the second half and created a number of good chances. Probably the best of them fell to Husain Ali and Salman Isa, and I think we were unlucky not to score," told Fifa.com

Unlike New Zealand, Bahrain have never qualified for a World Cup although they have been down the trials and tribulations of the qualifying road before.

Bahrain were on the verge of reaching the 2006 Word Cup in Germany, only to lose out to Trinidad and Tobago at this stage of the tournament. Macala feels that leaves his side with plenty of experience of the sort of pressures that will come in the Cake Tin.

"This will be the second time we've contested an intercontinental play-off and we have players in the squad who were there in 2006. I'm convinced we now have the experience to deal with this situation."

"Four years ago everyone believed Bahrain's result in the first leg would be enough to see them through, but Trinidad and Tobago won in Manama to qualify.

"That's in the past now, but we've learned that for the game in Wellington, the pressure will be on New Zealand to do well on home soil.

"With just one game to negotiate, we now have an historic chance to reach the World Cup. I hope we can realise that dream and I think that is all the incentive the players need. I also sincerely hope luck will be on our side this time."

Last weekend they beat Togo 5-1 in a warmup match. They are spending the early part of this week preparing in Sydney and will only fly to Wellington on Thursday.

Bahrain face a busy schedule. Four days after playing the All Whites they face Yemen in an Asian Cup qualifying match.

- © Fairfax NZ News