New Zealand poised to advance in WCup qualifying

DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) -West Ham defender Winston Reid will captain New Zealand in its Oceania World Cup qualifying match against New Caledonia on Friday, ushering in a new era after the retirement of veteran Ryan Nelsen.

Reid will be playing only his 15th international in the match at Dunedin and will take the armband from Nelsen, the former Blackburn Rovers and Queen's Park Rangers defender who retired one match short of 50 New Zealand appearances. The 24-year-old Reid has recently captained West Ham in F.A. Cup and English Premier League matches and coach Ricki Herbert said he was confident Reid was ready for the responsibility.

Herbert said Reid's appointment as West Ham captain "speaks volumes of his character, especially when you look at his peers in similar roles within the Premier League.''