shane smeltz

A 10-MAN Gold Coast United were robbed of a scrappy win by a 93rd-minute equaliser from A-League soccer rivals Adelaide United in the southern capital tonight. The 1-1 result was a heartbreaker for the Gold Coast who went ahead in the 44th-minute against the run of play, courtesy of a Steve Fitzsimmons header. It was Adelaide big name Mathew Leckie who pulled the game back from the brink for the Reds, slamming a shot past Gold Coast 'keeper Scott Higgins in the third minute of injury time.  

Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg says he fears striker Shane Smeltz isn't in the right head space to play in the A-League at the moment. Smeltz was a member of the All Whites squad which qualified for the World Cup at the weekend - and the coach says he hopes he's focused come this weekend. Gold Coast take on Adelaide at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday.  

The long road to determining the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ champions commenced in the Samoan capital of Apia way back on 25 August 2007. On that occasion New Caledonia captain Pierre Wajoka had the honour of scoring the first goal in the global campaign for South Africa 2010 with his ninth-minute penalty enough to edge Tahiti 1-0 in a Francophone derby. It proved to be the commencement of a solid campaign for the New Caledonians who were only admitted to FIFA in 2005.  

All-Whites Shane Smeltz and Michael McGlinchey can still hardly believe that they helped New Zealand qualify for its second-ever FIFA World Cup. The amazing feat might have already been achieved three days ago, but the pair are still coming to terms with the monumental victory against Bahrain that will ensure their country mixes it with the best the world has to offer in South Africa next year.  

But that didn't bother Gold Coast United goal machine Shane Smeltz, as New Zealand ended a 27-year hoodoo to join Australia at next year's World Cup finals.  

New Zealand have reached the World Cup finals for the second time in their history with victory over Bahrain in their qualifying play-off second leg.  

New Zealand have reached the World Cup finals for the second time in their history with victory over Bahrain in their qualifying play-off second leg. Striker Rory Fallon scored the decisive goal at the Westpac Stadium in the final minute of the first half with a header from a Leo Bertos corner. All Whites goalkeeper Mark Paston also saved a 51st-minute penalty from Bahrain's Sayed Adnan.  

The Sky Blues have their noses in front at the halfway mark.  

New Zealand have reached the World Cup finals for the second time in their history with victory over Bahrain in their qualifying play-off second leg. Striker Rory Fallon scored the decisive goal at the Westpac Stadium in the final minute of the first half with a header from a Leo Bertos corner. All Whites goalkeeper Mark Paston also saved a 51st-minute penalty from Bahrain's Sayed Adnan.