Wood dreams of 87th minute All Whites' winner

Relevant offers

National

Black Caps win T20 nailbiter against Zimbabwe Crusaders without Richie McCaw until April Ricki Hebert gets another chance at World Cup McClennan shooting for NRL title with Warriors Warriors testing their options in final trial Lydia Ko favourite for NZ Women's Open Olympic-bound rowers all class at NZ champs Microscope on Super Rugby tackle - again Dressing room insight an A-League winner Black Caps in the crosshairs of South Africa

Teenage striker Chris Wood says he has dreamed of scoring a last-gasp headed goal to book the All Whites a berth in the World Cup finals.

The 17-year-old Waikato product had a goal disallowed in the first leg against Bahrain last month - but is still convinced he was on-side and that he scored.

But Wood, who confidently asserts that he is ready to step up to a starting role on Saturday night, admits he has dared to dream of netting the winner.

"I'd be a liar to say I haven't played that in my mind a couple of times over the last three or four weeks after the Bahrain game,'' the West Bromwich Albion forward said.

"It would a major feeling to score the winning goal in our home stadium.

Wood said in his mind's eye he had visualised himself "getting a header from a Leo Bertos cross'', from the All Whites' right flank," in the 87^th minute.''

To cap a perfect scenario, the All Whites' would "win 1-0'' and the capital city's nightclub bouncers would let the winning scorer through their doors to celebrate.

Wood knows he can put the ball in the back of the net at international level - because he did it in Manama. 

He has refused to watch the footage of the incident, which led to the referee disallowing his "goal'' after a linesman flagged for offside. "I haven't actually seen it. To be honest, I don't really want to see it just in case it was on-side.

"Hopefully it's not a turning point in our game, but we deserved more than what we got out of the (Manama) game.

"To my mind, I was clearly on (side). The way the linesman would have taken it, he would have seen me and not the guy I saw on the far side. I was probably blocking him on my side.

"I turned to the right (after scoring) and saw the flag. It's not the best feeling but you have to get on with it.

"It would have been nice to score, but it just didn't happen ... it will happen on Saturday.''

- © Fairfax NZ News