New Zealand riding high after Peru first-leg draw

As the country toasted keeping Peru scoreless in Wellington on Saturday, coach Anthony Hudson confirmed he expected the side to be at full strength for the return clash in Lima on Wednesday.

The medical reports were positive for his injured star trio — Burnley striker Chris Wood (hamstring), West Ham’s Winston Reid (bruising) and Ipswich Town back Tommy Smith (calf).

“Overall, the whole team has had a good recovery session and the medical staff say we’re in a good place … we have a couple that we need to monitor, but nothing serious,” Hudson said as the team prepared to fly to Peru.

“In the next couple of days we need to make sure we do everything possible to get our best team on the pitch.”

New Zealand, ranked 122nd in the world, need only a score draw in Lima to be assured of a World Cup finals berth after keeping the 10th-ranked Peru goalless in the first leg.

New Zealand’s head coach Anthony Hudson, seen at half-time during their FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifying first leg match against Peru, at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, on November 11, 2017

“We’re definitely confident because we always go away and play against the so-called bigger teams and have always been able to score,” captain Reid said.

“Look, we’re only halfway done. We’ve still got a long way to go, but if we can continue to recover the next couple of days we’ll be ready for the game on Wednesday.”

The New Zealand media hailed Saturday’s draw as one of the best results in the football history of a country where the sport takes a back-seat to rugby union.

“The World Cup dream is alive,” trumpeted the New Zealand Herald, adding that even though Peru dominated for most of the match, New Zealand “could even have grabbed a unlikely win, with a Ryan Thomas shot going agonisingly close in the 85th minute.”

Fairfax Media described New Zealand as delivering a performance that gave reason for hope.

“When they needed it most, the All Whites delivered a performance to be proud of, and New Zealand can now begin to hope.

“With a place at the World Cup at stake, Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Peru in Wellington was their best 90-minute effort since June 2010, and their last appearance at world football’s showpiece event — the 1-1 draw with Italy or the 0-0 against Paraguay, take your pick.”

New Zealand have made two finals appearances — 1982 and 2010 — while Peru have qualified for the finals four times but not since 1982.