Soccer Football - New Zealand v Portugal - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group A - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 24, 2017 New Zealand’s Andrew Durante in action with Portugal’s Ricardo Quaresma REUTERS/Carl Recine
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand's hopes of reaching the World Cup finals in Russia next year have suffered a setback after defender Andrew Durante was ruled out of the two-leg playoff against Peru in November due to injury.
The 35-year-old suffered a groin adductor injury in Wellington Phoenix's 3-2 loss to Sydney FC in the A-League last Sunday. Scans on Thursday confirmed the extent of the injury, local media reported, which would keep him out of action for up to 12 weeks.
