Kiwis make WC return, Nigeria pull off rally bid

With five playoff first legs beginning, we now have 25 teams already qualified for next summer's World Cup in South Africa.

Early today, New Zealand finished of Bahrain in the Oceania/Asia playoff. Rory Fallon became a household name in his land forever by nodding home the lone goal of the tie to send the Kiwis back to World Cup for the first time since 1982.

Then, Nigeria scored a comeback win on a late, acrobatic brace-maker from Obafemi Martins at Kenya as group leader Tunisia was losing to claim a closing day berth.

Yes, MLS fans... Andrew Boyens is really going to the World Cup.





- Greg Seltzer