The 1-0 scoreline was no reflection of the drama of a tension-packed night with Bahrain needing only a 1-1 draw to deny the All Whites a place in South Africa next year.
The final 10 minutes left the record crowd of 35,000 at Westpac Stadium drained as Bahrain mounted several desperate attacks searching for the equaliser.
Hearts were racing when Tim Brown conceded a free kick just outside the area in the 87th minute. Bahrain bundled the ball into the net after the free kick was blocked but the whistle had already gone.
However, there were more clear chances at the other end as the home side refused to sit on a halftime lead of 1-0 and kept searching for a second goal.
All Whites goalkeeper Mark Paston was the hero of the night, diving to his right to save a penalty just after halftime after Jason Lockhead brought down striker Omar inside the area.
Earlier the All Whites took the lead courtesy of a Rory Fallon header on the stroke of halftime.
New Zealand dominated the first half after a nervous start with Fallon having a header saved on the line just minutes before his goal.
Earlier his fellow striker Chris Killen hit the cross bar with a left-foot volley.
New Zealand was thankful for the relexes of goalkeeper Mark Paston halfway through the half when he parried a vicious drive from outside the area.
The match is the second leg of the World Cup football qualifying tie. The first leg in Manama was drawn 0-0.
