Wood was substituted at the hour mark after scoring his third goal, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd at Wellington. He went into the stands to mingle with supporters and on his return to the pitchside was shown a yellow card.
The 33-year-old will still be available for New Zealand’s game against New Caledonia in the final of the Oceania qualifying on Monday in Auckland.
“If that’s the rules, that’s the rules,” Wood was quoted as saying by France 24. “Just doing something nice and trying to sign for the fans.”
A win would seal automatic qualification for the All Whites to the 2026 World Cup, in what would be their first appearance at the tournament since 2010.
Information from Reuters was used in this report.
