New Zealand reach World Cup play-off

AFP - 6 September 2008 14:25

Sam Messam (centre) of New Zealand leads his teammates Craig Henderson (left) and Ian Hogg (right) in the traditional Maori ´haka´ dance after their Beijing Olympics first round match against Belgium, August 2008. A second-half double by Smeltz lifted New Zealand to a 3-1 victory over New Caledonia Saturday, putting them on the verge of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

NOUMEA, New Caledonia (AFP) - A second-half double by Shane Smeltz lifted New Zealand to a 3-1 victory over New Caledonia here Saturday to put them on the verge of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

New Zealand must now play the fifth-ranked Asian nation in a home-and-away series, with the winner going through to the World Cup finals in South Africa.

Smeltz's two-goal burst sealed the match for New Zealand after they appeared to lose their way early in the second half.

Ben Sigmund put New Zealand ahead in the 15th minute when he fired in from close range following a corner.

The All Whites looked to have control of the match against a struggling New Caledonia side and only excellent work by goalkeeper Jean Marc Ounemoa kept the score at 1-0.

But shortly after half-time Michel Hmae equalised for New Caledonia as New Zealand began to struggle in the tropical heat.

However, they were back infront in the 65th minute when Jarrod Smith and Jeremy Brockie combined to set up Smeltz for his first goal, firing home from close range.

Eleven minutes later, Smeltz put New Zealand 3-1 up when he received the ball on the edge of the box, turned his marker and hammered a powerful shot into the top corner.