Town’s Tommy Smith helped New Zealand to their first ever World Cup point as a last-gasp Winston Reid goal saw the All Whites to a 1-1 draw with Slovakia in Rustenburg. The Blues’ centre-half played the full 90 minutes as he won his fifth full cap.
New Zealand, with 20-year-old Smith part of a solid three-man backline, thoroughly deserved their point against a lacklustre Slovakian side, who had gone ahead through Robert Vittek’s offside goal soon after the break.
The All Whites looked set to fall to a 1-0 defeat until defender Reid, who plays for FC Midtjylland in Denmark and who like Smith only recently committed to playing for New Zealand, headed home a cross from the left deep in injury time.
Italy are New Zealand's second opponents in Nelspruit on Sunday, while they complete their opening phase matches against Paraguay in Polokwane on June 24th. Group F is currently all-square with each of the two games finishing 1-1.
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New Zealand: Paston, Reid, Nelsen, Vicelich (Christie 78), Smith, Lochhead, Bertos, Elliot, Fallon, Killen (Wood 72) and Smeltz.