Monty Patterson’s New Zealand secured their place in an inter-confederation World Cup play-off by drawing 2-2 with the Solomon Islands in Honiara overnight to take the two-legged tie 8-3 on aggregate.
Patterson, 20, won his 15th full cap and played the first 58 minutes for the All Whites, who were 6-1 ahead from Friday's first leg in Auckland.
As the winners of the Oceania Football Confederation qualification process New Zealand will now face the side which finishes fifth in South American qualification group - currently Argentina with each team having three qualifying games remaining - in a play-off in November for a place at the finals in Russia next summer.
Striker or midfielder Patterson, who has scored one international goal, made his senior debut for the Blues as a sub in the Carabao Cup defeat at Crystal Palace a fortnight ago.
Town defender Tommy Smith was initially named in the All Whites squad but pulled out due to the hamstring injury which is currently keeping him out of action.