New Zealand and New Caledonia have drawn in their second-leg Oceania football world cup qualifier in Kone tonight.
All Whites captain Chris Wood and New Caledonia's Cedric Sansot clash in Kone. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
In very wet and humid conditions, both sides managed to create goal scoring opportunities but neither could convert any of them.
New Caledonia looked to have taken the lead midway through the first half but an acrobatic clearance off the line from defender Bill Tuiloma kept the All Whites in the game.
New Caledonia became more and more frustrated as they failed to score and, while New Zealand maintained their discipline, the home side's tackling became erratic and clumsy.
Tempers frayed further when New Caledonia captain Bertrand Kai took exception to a tackle on him by Ryan Thomas and he headbutted Thomas in retaliation.
The referee had no option but to send Kai off, leaving the home side with only 10 men for the last 15 minutes.
The All Whites, though, couldn't make the most though of the extra man, and the match finished at nil-all.
New Zealand won the first leg match 2-nil in Auckland at the weekend.
