New Zealand captain Winston Reid put in an outstanding performance to earn his side a 0-0 draw against Peru in the first leg of their intercontinental 2018 World Cup play-off.
The centre-back marshalled the New Zealand defence in a resounding effort to keep out Peru - who sit tenth in the FIFA World Rankings - earning the Kiwis a draw in the first leg of the tie.
Reid's was satisfied with his, and his team's, performance at the Wellington’s Westpac Stadium.
"We’ve been close to getting a result before against the so-called bigger teams," Reid said, according to Fox Sports. "Today, for me, was about keeping a clean sheet at the back and giving ourselves an opportunity in the second leg. We’ve certainly done that."
Today, for me, was about keeping a clean sheet at the back and giving ourselves an opportunity in the second leg. We’ve certainly done that.
Winston Reid
"The first ten minutes were a bit cagey and it was just about settling the nerves down. The second half was a lot better, we produced some good chances.
“They’re a quality side but we’ll go to the second leg full of confidence. It’s all about resting up now."
New Zealand will travel to Lima next week to play the second leg of the competition with Reid and his compatriots looking to secure the nation's spot at a World Cup finals for just the third time in their history.
The two previous times were in 1982 and 2010, the latter of which was where a young Reid made his mark on global football.
Then just 21-years-old, Reid helped New Zealand to an unbeaten campaign as they drew all three of their group stage fixtures in Group F.
The defender scored a late equaliser in the draw with Slovakia in the tournament in South Africa, and will be hoping for a positive result next week against Peru to cement his, and New Zealand's, return to the World Cup next summer.
Reid is one of seven New Zealand internationals that are based in Britain who will have travelled 24,000 miles to compete for a place at the World Cup finals by the time he returns to West Ham after the second leg next Thursday morning.