The All Whites Phoenix contingent won't have time to savour the moment at AMI Stadium tonight - they'll be on a madcap dash ultimately bound for Mexico City.
Skipper Andrew Durante insists the Wellington Phoenix will put their "crazy week" of disruptions behind them when they tackle Shane Smeltz's Perth Glory team in Christchurch tonight.
Waitakere United midfielder Jake Butler was added to the All Whites squad on Friday ahead of the New Zealand side’s FIFA World CupTM intercontinental playoff with Mexico beginning next week.
Team Wellington have signed English winger Charlie Henry to bolster their 2013-14 national football league roster.
The biggest blow to the All Whites in decades. With the timing and circumstances of Winston Reid's withdrawal from the All Whites after injuring an ankle in training, it is easy to get carried away with hyperbole but Ivan Vicelich provides some context.
Ben Sigmund says losing Winston Reid is "a massive blow" but he would relish the challenge of replacing the injured skipper for the World Cup playoff series with Mexico.
The Wellington Phoenix players reckoned they owed Ernie Merrick three points - before they heard about their coach's house fire.
The All Whites will battle Mexico for a place in the 2014 FIFA World CupTM without Winston Reid after the New Zealand skipper suffered an ankle injury in training with English Premier League club West Ham United on Tuesday.
Jeremy Brockie is relieved the uncertainty over the All Whites' availability is over because he didn't want to miss the Wellington Phoenix's A-League game in Christchurch.
Winston Reid is in serious doubt for the World Cup playoff against Mexico next week.
Leicester City are hopeful they will have striker Chris Wood available for the big East Midlands showdown with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Storm Roux's accent gives the game away.
Ernie Merrick has vowed not to let the upcoming international break destroy Wellington Phoenix's season as he prepares to lose five key players to New Zealand's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification bid.
West Ham are prepared to charter a private jet to enable defender Winston Reid to play at Norwich on Saturday and then fly straight to the United States to prepare for New Zealand’s World Cup play-off against Mexico.
Good news for the Wellington Phoenix players today with the announcement that their All Whites would be able to play against Perth Glory in Christchurch on Saturday.
The dream season of Storm Roux continued on Tuesday with the 20-year-old fullback named in the New Zealand squad for the FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoff with Mexico later this month.
New Zealand Football announced the 23-man All Whites squad on Monday for the FIFA World CupTM intercontinental playoff with Mexico later this month with uncapped Central Coast Mariners youngster Storm Roux included.
The start of Kevin Muscat's reign as Melbourne Victory's new head coach caused more frustration for his long-time mentor as the two-time A-League champions extended the Wellington Phoenix's winless start to the 2013-14 season at Etihad Stadium tonight.
There will be a few football folk praying there's not much injury time at Christchurch's AMI Stadium on Saturday.
After witnessing the Wellington Phoenix concede three goals in a half for only the fourth time in their history, Ernie Merrick described his return to the Melbourne Victory as a "great reunion" and bullishly predicted the teams could meet again in the A-League finals series.
Wellington Phoenix again paid the penalty for starting slowly when they were beaten 3-2 by Melbourne Victory before more than 23,000 people at Etihad Stadium on Monday night.
The Wellington Phoenix expect a decision from New Zealand Football today over the availability of five All Whites for Saturday's A-League clash in Christchurch.
All Whites striker Kosta Barbarouses predicts it will be business as usual for the Melbourne Victory despite an anticipated coaching change installing abrasive former Socceroos defender Kevin Muscat as Ange Postecoglou's successor at the A-League powerhouse.
Plotlines abound as Ernie Merrick and Carlos Hernandez return to Melbourne in enemy colours for the first time tonight.
NEXT weekend Kosta Barbarouses will fly to Mexico with the All Whites hoping to take the Kiwis to a second consecutive World Cup.
The first piece of silverware on offer this season will spend the summer in the Auckland City trophy cabinet after the Navy Blues got the better of Waitakere United 4-1 in an enthralling ASB Charity Cup final at Fred Taylor Park this afternoon.
The All Whites have been given a leg-up in their bid to reach consecutive World Cups, with Mexico's new coach snubbing his European stars for this month's playoffs.
Although New Zealand Football Chairman Frank Van Hattum' comments raised some eyebrows this week, qualifying for the World Cup through Asia has been the traditional route for Oceania teams.
Call it Home and Away - the Wellington Phoenix match against the Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium tomorrow features storylines worthy of a soap opera. Long-time Victory coach Ernie Merrick will return to his old stomping ground for the first time after being sacked two years ago - and is bringing midfielder Carlos Hernandez, a former Melbourne crowd favourite, with him.
You do wonder at times about the brains trust running New Zealand football. UEFA president Michel Platini's unlikely-to-be-implemented plan to increase the number of teams in the World Cup finals in Russia in 2018 from 32 to 40 includes a provision for the winner of the Oceania group to gain automatic entry to the Cup.
The All Whites have never won on Mexican soil but they at least have a pedigree of solid performances in the country, which will need to be emulated in November.
Ernie Merrick says there's little room for sentimentality as his Wellington Phoenix team tackle Melbourne Victory on familiar territory at Etihad Stadium on Monday.
Cambridge will now host the majority of home matches for the WaiBop United side after a late venue change ahead of the Premiership season.
Football fans have been handed a bonus for Sunday's ASB Charity Cup clash between Waitakere United and Auckland City and subsequent ASB Premiership matches with the announcement of a partnership with SOMMET Sports who will provide delayed coverage of all Waitakere United home games this season.
As challenges go Wellington Phoenix’ visit to Etihad Stadium on Monday night for the round four Hyundai A-League clash with Melbourne Victory is up there with the toughest.