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Ivan Vicelich and Bahrain's Jaycee John fight for the ball - Source: Reuters -
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The All Whites survived plenty of pressure from Bahrain in Manama on Sunday to maintain firm hopes of qualifying for next year's World Cup finals.
The two sides drew 0-0 in the opening leg, leaving the tie delicately balanced ahead of the return match in Wellington on November 14.
For New Zealand, victory at home would mean they can book their tickets for South Africa next June and July.
However, under the away goals rule, Bahrain would go through if there is a score draw, such as 1-1 or 2-2, at Westpac Stadium.
At the National Stadium, the All Whites were not afraid to go forward and they created a number of half-chances.
But the best opportunities fell to their opponents, who may rue wasting two gilt-edged openings that came in the second half to Husain Ali and Salman Isa.
Missed the game? Catch up with TVNZ ondemand highlights of the All Whites versus Bahrain
The All Whites adopted what for them was an unfamiliar formation of three at the back led by skipper Ryan Nelsen.
Coach Ricki Herbert also employed three strikers, with Shane Smeltz operating behind Chris Killen and Rory Fallon.
New Zealand began well, with Fallon heading wide from a Leo Bertos cross.
But Bahrain, showing speed up front and a willingness to commit players forward, began to look dangerous, particularly over the middle period of the first half.
In the 20th minute, Nigerian-born Belgian-based Jaycee John was wide with a 20m snap shot after Simon Elliott lost possession in his own third.
Four minutes later, from a corner, a diving Sayed Adnan just failed to get on the end of a flick-on.
Moments after, Husain Baba slipped defender Ben Sigmund, but shot wide from an acute angle.
With halftime looming, the All Whites had another half-chance, and a difficult one, with Fallon, his back to goal, hooking a volley wide from an Elliott corner.
After the restart, Bahrain came out with plenty of purpose, and should have gone ahead in the 47th minute.
The New Zealand defensive line pushed forward and were exposed by a floated pass to Ali, who found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Mark Paston.
But Ali's attempt to lob Paston went horribly wrong and he pushed the ball well wide.
Bahrain continued to press forward and John shot over the bar from 10m.
Paston was then forced into a save from Fouzi Aaish, before Sayed Mohamed Adnan just failed to find the target from a free kick.
The introduction of substitutes Chris Wood and Mark McGlinchey gave the All Whites fresh legs and McGlinchey in particular made his presence felt.
In the 72nd minute, the pair were involved in a move that saw New Zealand get the ball into the net, but Wood, who fired home, was ruled offside.
However, Bahrain again let slip a great chance to go ahead in the 75th minute, when Isa was set free down the right despite appeals for offside.
But instead of passing to John, who was unmarked in front of goal, Isa elected to go around Paston and shoot from an acute angle, only to see the ball bounce off the near post.
The hardworking Killen then came close with the curling shot and also with an acrobatic bicycle kick.
But New Zealand had to get through some more nervous moments
before coming away unscathed.
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