Rory Fallon scored the lone goal in the 44th minute and Mark Paston saved a penalty kick, as New Zealand defeated Bahrain, 1-0, on Saturday to qualify to the World Cup for the first time since 1982.

Fallon headed in the goal off a corner kick and New Zealand captured the home- and-home series between the Oceania champion and the fifth-place team in Asian qualifying with Bahrain following a 0-0 draw in the first leg Oct 10.

Bahrain, which also lost a playoff four years ago against Trinidad and Tobago, wasted a chance to tie the match in the 50th when Sayed Adnan drove a weak on goal and Paston easily made the save.