Bahrain look to build on first-leg lessons against New Zealand

Wellington: Bahrain will be hoping to build on a dominant second-half display in last month's scoreless draw with New Zealand as the platform for a better result in today's Asia/Oceania World Cup qualifier second leg.

The winner of the match at a sold-out Westpac Stadium in Wellington will advance to the 2010 World Cup finals after the side's battled out a 0-0 draw in Manama, with Bahrain failing to convert several clear-cut chances.

Despite the stalemate, Bahrain coach Milan Macala said the match had been a tremendous learning experience for his side as they had only previously seen the All Whites on television.

"The first half, because we [had] not experienced them... we played very carefully," Macala told reporters yesterday.

"The second half we played very good and I think we were a better team.

"We created five opportunities and should have scored two. If we were sitting here at 2-0 then we would be in a much better situation.

"At 0-0, then its not a bad result but we still have to be very careful when we play."

Macala, whose light-hearted personality was evident throughout the news conference, however, refused to divulge exactly what he had learned from last month's match.

Secret

"It's a secret," he said when asked what he thought the All Whites' weaknesses were.

"I can't tell you," he then replied with a chuckle when asked what the Oceania champions' strengths might be.

New Zealand trained all week with the 3-4-3 formation they used in Manama, and Rory Fallon is likely again to join Killen and Smeltz up front.

However, coach Ricki Herbert said there was a concern over midfielder anchor Simon Elliott, who is battling a hip injury though he would be given until the last possible minute to prove his fitness.

World Cup qualifiers

Greece v Ukraine 18.00 Portugal v Bosnia 20.30 Rep of Ireland v France 20.00 Russia v Slovenia 16.00

International Belgium v Hungary 19.45 Brazil v England 17.00 Croatia v Liechtenstein 16.30 Denmark v South Korea 19.00 Estonia v Albania 14.00 FYR Macedonia v Canada 12.00 Germany v Chile 19.30 (postponed as a mark of respect) Italy v Holland 19.00 Luxembourg v Iceland 18.00 Northern Ireland v Serbia 17.30 Poland v Romania 16.00 Saudi Arabia v Belarus 16.40 Slovakia v USA 15.00 South Africa v Japan 13.30 Spain v Argentina 21.00 Switzerland v Norway 19.00 Wales v Scotland 15.00