Club

International Notebook | Timbers' Bill Tuiloma and New Zealand earn a gutsy scoreless draw with Peru in World Cup playoff qualifier

Bill Tuiloma

Portland Timbers midfielder Bill Tuiloma helped New Zealand secure an important 0-0 draw with Peru in the first leg of a home-and-home World Cup intercontinental playoff Saturday. In front of a boisterous crowd of over 37,000 in Wellington, the All Whites went toe-to-toe with the heavily favored La Blanquirroja.

Tuiloma came in for the final 12 minutes to help the home side secure the clean sheet and prevent Peru from scoring any crucial away goals. The two teams will now play in Lima on Nov. 15 (6:15pm PT) with the winner advancing to next summer's FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Elsewhere in international action, Portland's David Guzmán did not feature in Costa Rica's 5-0 loss to Spain in an international friendly in Malaga. Los Ticos will play Hungary in another friendly on Nov. 14 (11:45am PT).