Chris Wooden scored a second straight hat-trick for New Zealand as they edged in direction of a World Cup place – and was then booked for signing autographs within the stands.
Wooden, 33, hit a hat-trick in his facet’s 7-0 defeat of Fiji in a World Cup qualifier on Friday and was substituted to a standing ovation after his third purpose in Wellington.
The Nottingham Forest striker headed straight to the stands to signal autographs and have his photograph taken with followers.
🇳🇿📸 Chris Wooden acquired a yellow card for signing autographs within the crowd after being subbed off following his hattrick in opposition to Fiji
By no means change, Woodsy 🖊️🤣 pic.twitter.com/psRvVmRkQ5
— FernsHub (@FernsHub) March 21, 2025
Nevertheless, Wooden’s act of goodwill incurred the wrath of referee Norbert Hauata who cautioned the striker as he made his method again to the pitch-side as a result of the sport was nonetheless occurring.
“If that’s the foundations, that’s the foundations,” Wooden mentioned. ” I used to be simply doing one thing good and making an attempt to signal for the followers.”
The All Whites will meet New Caledonia within the last of Oceania qualifying in Auckland on Monday as they attempt to ebook their first World Cup spot since South Africa 2010.
Wooden has loved an outstanding season within the Premier League and in addition scored a hat-trick in New Zealand’s earlier qualifier final 12 months, an 8-0 win in opposition to Samoa.
He added: “We all know how good New Caledonia are and we’re going to must be prepared for them.
“We all know they’re going to trigger us issues. We have to concentrate on doing restoration nicely now and be able to go Monday.”
