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NEW ZEALAND 0 / CHILE 0, February 1st, 1998. |
AUCKLAND, New Zealand February 4, 1998 (Reuters). New Zealand held World Cup qualifiers Chile to a nil-all draw in a friendly match on Wednesday, but the South Americans will consider themselves unlucky not to have won. Chile, who displayed some neat passing touches, had a goal disallowed and also hit the crossbar with a freekick. Midway through the second half, striker Rodrigo Barrera met a cross and headed into the net from close range but was judged offside. Minutes later New Zealand conceded a freekick from 20 meters out and a well-struck shot over the defensive wall by substitute Jose Luis Sierra beat All Whites goalkeeper Jason Batty but thudded against the bar. Chile, ranked 16th in the world and qualifiers for the World Cup finals in France this year, had landed in Auckland only two days earlier. Despite fielding a below strength side, they dominated most of the match, although New Zealand's All Whites had their moments. New Zealand, who have only qualified once for the World Cup back in 1982, began positively and might even have taken a shock lead after seven minutes. A Chris Zoricich freekick whipped in across the face of the goal and was firmly met by defender Danny Hay with a crisp downward header that was just tipped around the post by goalkeeper Marcelo Ramirez. As the first half progressed, however, the Chileans, who had some vocal support in the 7,000-strong crowd, began to assume control. A shot by midfielder Clarence Acuna shaved the bar and Barrera fired a shot just wide. Chile's best chance of the first half came on the half-hour when Batty failed to gather a cross and a shot by Acuna was stopped on the line by Hay. 
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