NZ arrive home with World Cup dreams hanging by a thread

New Zealand will need to score at least four goals at a sold-out Wellington Regional Stadium on Wednesday to advance to their second successive finals and Herbert has no option but to go on the attack.

Others, however, pointed out that it had taken the home side more than 30 minutes to break down New Zealand’s defence and the first goal had come from an error when goalkeeper Glen Moss and defender Andrew Durante collided while trying to clear the ball.

Defenders Bill Tuiloma and Ben Sigmund playing in a traditional back four with Marco Rojas, Chris James, who scored New Zealand’s goal in Mexico City, and Shane Smeltz have been touted as likely inclusions to provide a more attacking lineup.