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.

If you’re planning on making some World Cup wagers, free bets are available from a number of leading bookies via TWTD’s Betting section on the main menu at the top of the page or here.

New Zealand: Paston, Reid, Nelsen, Vicelich (Christie 78), Smith, Lochhead, Bertos, Elliot, Fallon, Killen (Wood 72) and Smeltz.

Photo: Action Images

wazza added 14:37 - Jun 15 Well done Tommy
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Lightningboy added 14:38 - Jun 15 Great result..well played Tommy!
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Suffolk_n_Good added 14:39 - Jun 15 Well done Tommy, thought you had a good solid game, Keano if your looking for an unsung heor best you get on the case of Winston Reid!!! Great challenge to deny slovakia a second goal, & then a well taken header at the other end!! KEANO SIGN HIM UP!!!
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MCGOODERZ added 14:43 - Jun 15 sign the new zealand goalkeeper now or i'm giving up my season ticket
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floridaboy added 14:45 - Jun 15 Thought Smith had a good solid match. Nothing flash, his tackling was fine and did not make many bad passes. Will do his confidence the power of good and surely must see him getting a chance next season. Looks to have a nice left foot - left back anyone!
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kiwiblue added 14:47 - Jun 15 sign them all up change the home ground to wellington and i can go and see them play for a change. on second thoughts dont roy you will pay too much for them and pay them silly wages and they will all sit back on life.
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maimeetang added 14:47 - Jun 15 Haha. That keeps was well funny in the first half :) Well played Tommy! Good steady game.
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awayfan added 17:06 - Jun 15 Great stuff - well done Tommy & the All Whites!
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Strider added 17:17 - Jun 15 Great stuff Tommy, he'll develop as a player for this experience and both he and Town should reap the rewards. Would love to see him nod one in against the Italians!
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chesh added 18:05 - Jun 15 hahaha, i love the new Town Badge...
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Markie31 added 18:15 - Jun 15 Watched the whole thing. Smith definately did his job at the back, no mistakes that I can note and had his moment blocking a cross from inside the penalty area. Very well played Tommy, glad to have you representing Ipswich Town :D
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andygizmo added 20:22 - Jun 15 MMMMM.... too many rose tinted glasses, Let's be honest he was Ok'ish but on several occasions lacked pace and Weiss had the ability to go past him relatively easily. He will learn from the experience but left back next season? No I don't think so. As for signing the Keeper...... please I wouldn't want him for my Sunday League team ... flaps and indecisive. Goalscorer looked decent but let's see how he fares against Italy.

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Tractorog added 00:03 - Jun 16 I agree about the rose tinted glasses. He made quite a few telling tackles and interceptions, but at least one was the result of his own earlier error. Still he is learning and the experience will bring him on. I notice that the two clubs looking at Gio have withdrawn their interest. I wonder what happened there?
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generalpublic added 03:24 - Jun 16 below average game i wouldnt sign any of them.well done to NZ for getting the late goal but NZ had no idea about bringing the ball forward and spent 80% of the game going backwards.i think some of these minor teams might be better with the jack charlton method 'it would definately put some of these boring passing teams to the test
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:02 - Jun 16 The boy done well!
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RevAdrian added 07:10 - Jun 16 Tommy played a good solid game - best thing was he looked composed, distribution was good and, as others have said, this will have been a great experience for him surely. Yes, there were some pacey players for the opposition but the point is he played on the world cup stage and came away surely being able to say he had a good game.
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blueherts added 08:31 - Jun 16 Oh yes and I wonder where our other 'World Class' Internationals are spending the summer - oh yes - Magaluf and Ayia Napa - WELL DONE TS - FYI Weiss is a pretty good player - better than most in the Champ
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corshamblue added 10:29 - Jun 16 Well Played Tommy, work on your speed and you'll have a bright future.
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BurleyForever added 13:16 - Jun 16 Good game Tommy well done lad Gio instead of Choppra if other 2 clubs have pulled out
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