15 Nov 2009

Fallon gets to make amends for mistake

6:24 pm on 15 November 2009

The goal scoring All Whites striker Rory Fallon says he thought the chance to play at a football world cup had passed him by.

Fallon scored the goal that put New Zealand through to next year's world cup final in South Africa, as the All Whites beat Bahrain one nil in Wellington last night.

As a teenager moved to England and when offered the chance to play for England at youth level took it - ruling him out of ever playing for New Zealand, until a recent FIFA law change.

Fallon says opting to play for England was a mistake he made as a youngster and he thought it would mean his dream of playing at a world cup was shattered.

But once the rule change came into effect and Ricki Herbert offered him a path back he says he's grabbed it with both hands.