Central Coast Mariners midfielder Michael McGlinchey played the full 90 minutes this morning as New Zealand suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Mexico in the first leg of their at 2014 FIFA World Cup playoff the Azteca Stadium.

Central Coast Mariners midfielder Michael McGlinchey played the full 90 minutes this morning as New Zealand suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Mexico in the first leg of their at 2014 FIFA World Cup playoff the Azteca Stadium.

El Tri flexed their footballing muscle against the All Whites in Mexico City, and have now all but booked their place at world football-s showpiece event in Brazil next year.

Storm Roux was an unused substitute for Ricki Herbert-s team as over 100,000 fans roared Miguel Herrera-s charges to a comprehensive victory.

McGlinchey and Roux, along with their New Zealand teammates, will now depart central America bound for Wellington for the second leg at Westpac Stadium on Wednesday 20 November.

35,000 fans are expected to pack the ‘Cake Tin- as New Zealand aim to overturn the huge deficit and pull off one of the most remarkable comebacks in world football history.