Bahrain held by New Zealand in WCup play-offNew Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. held an unrelenting but distinctly unlucky Bahrain to a goalless draw in the first-leg of the 2010 World Cup Asia/Oceania play-off in Manama on Saturday. Bahrain missed at least four clear chances of scoring while the Kiwis defended stoutly and emerged unscathed with their goalkeeper Mark Paston Mark Paston (born December 13, 1976) is a New Zealand soccer goalkeeper who currently plays for the Wellington Phoenix in the A-League. International career He has collected 11 caps for the All Whites in official FIFA internationals starting in 1997 against Indonesia, the hero of the evening. Bahrain enjoyed better ball possession, dictated the pace of the match but could not find the target to give meaning to their overall domination. The second-leg is scheduled for November 14 in Wellington with the winner booking a berth for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. . New Zealand last competed in a World Cup way back in 1982 with their present coach Ricki Herbert a member of that team while Bahrain are yet to play in the soccer showpiece show·piece n. Something exhibited, especially as an outstanding example of its kind. showpiece Noun 1. anything displayed or exhibited 2. event. The tiny Gulf nation, with a population of a little over a million, came agonisingly close to playing in the World Cup four years ago but lost to Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (trĭn`ĭdăd, təbā`gō), officially Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, republic (2005 est. pop. 1,088,000), 1,980 sq mi (5,129 sq km), West Indies. The capital is Port of Spain. at the same stage and at the same venue. 
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