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Showing posts with label Mark Paston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Paston. Show all posts

Monday, June 7, 2010

World Cup GK Profile: Mark Paston (New Zealand)

Mark Paston
Squad: New Zealand
Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 33
Birth Date: Dec 13, 1976
Birth Place: Hastings, New Zealand
Height: 6' 5" (1.95m)
Weight: 198 lbs (90 kg)
Club: Wellington Phoenix (NZL)
International Caps: 23

Club History
Wellington Phoenix (NZL): 2007-
New Zealand Knights FC (NZL): 2006-2007
St. Johnstone (SCO): 2005-2006
Walsall (ENG): 2004-2005
Bradford City (ENG): 2003-2004
Napier City Rovers (NZL): 1997-2003




from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Paston, having represented New Zealand at Under-23 level, made his full All Whites debut at the age of 20 in a 5–0 loss to Indonesia on 21 September 1997, but did not feature in another full international until 2003, Jason Batty, Michael Utting and later Ross Nicholson being preferred choices. Since returning to the international side in 2003, Paston has competed with former Wellington Phoenix team-mate Glen Moss for the goalkeeper position.

He was named as part of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup New Zealand squad to travel to South Africa, where he was second choice as Moss played in all three games. However, Moss's suspension from international football for improper conduct meant that Paston played in the World Cup Qualification playoff against Bahrain. On 10 October 2009 Paston kept a clean sheet in the first leg in Riffa, and in the return leg on 14 November 2009 he was Man of the Match, saving a penalty from Sayed Mohamed Adnan in the 51st minute which was enough to secure New Zealand a 1-0 win in Wellington, enabling them to qualify for the World Cup for only the second time in their history. Paston's fractured leg had threatened to harm his World Cup chances, but the goalkeeper has since made a good recovery and has been named in New Zealand's training squad for the tournament. With Moss's suspension running into the first two games of the World Cup, Paston, if fit, is expected to play as Ricki Herbert's first-choice goalkeeper.

On 10 May 2010, Paston was named in New Zealand's final 23-man squad to compete at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

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