Kiwis ‘gutted’ as Peru end World Cup dream

AFP: New Zealand football fans lamented the end of their World Cup dream Thursday after a 2-0 defeat to Peru, but said the unfancied All Whites’ gritty display had done the nation proud.

New Zealand, rated 122 in the world, went into the two-legged qualifier as rank outsiders against 10th-placed Peru. But a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Wellington inspired hopes that they could steal an away goal in the return leg in Lima to earn a spot at the finals in Russia next year.

No team in qualification history had ever overcome such a ranking discrepancy but optimism was plentiful at the Four Kings sports bar in Wellington as fans gathered to watch the match.