New Zealand earns dramatic draw vs. Slovakia

Soccer Betting Lines

06/15/2010 - Rustenburg, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Winston Reid scored three minutes into stoppage time and New Zealand earned a dramatic 1-1 draw against Slovakia on Tuesday in the FIFA World Cup Group F action at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Robert Vittek scored early in the second half for Slovakia, but Reid responded in the dying seconds to deny the Slovakians a win in their World Cup debut.

New Zealand, which lost all three games in its only other World Cup appearance in 1982, earned its first-ever point in the tournament.

New Zealand created the first chance inside five minutes, but Chris Killen had his header saved by Slovakia goalie Jan Mucha. The All Whites continued to put pressure on Slovakia in the opening 20 minutes, but failed to threaten again.

Slovakia settled in after Vladimir Weiss and Stanislav Sestak worked a passing combination to set up a shot for Sestak, who fired wide right to waste an open look in the 25th minute.

Vittek latched onto a poor clearance by New Zealand goalie Mark Paston minutes later but failed to get a shot off with Paston scrambling back to his line. He had another chance after another New Zealand turnover in the 35th minute, but fired a 30-yard shot wide.

New Zealand responded to Vittek's miss, and Shane Smeltz forced Mucha into the best save of the first half. Mucha got a small touch on the ball with his hand to direct the shot just wide of the upper left and into the side netting.

Slovakia's Marek Hamsik closed the half with a speculative effort from outside the area, but Paston was still forced to push the dipping ball over the bar in the 43rd minute.

Vittek made up for his first-half misses less than five minutes after break, as he finished off a cross from Sestak in the 50th minute. Weiss started the play with a short pass on the right to Sestak, who swung a cross into the area.

Vittek ran under the cross near penalty spot and headed inside the left post past a diving Paston for his 20th international goal.

Slovakia threatened again in 59th minute when Sestak set up another chance for Vittek, but just as the shot left his foot, Reid slid in to deflect the ball.

The Slovakians continued to control the majority of the second half, with Rory Fallon's poor effort in the 79th minute one of the few chances for New Zealand after the break.

New Zealand created another chance in the 88th, but Smeltz turned a cross from Tony Lochhead wide left from 12 yards, as Slovakia survived another scare.

Slovakia couldn't make it to the final whistle, though, as Smeltz sent a cross from the right with pin-point accuracy to Reid in the middle of the area. Reid headed the cross off the inside of the right post past a diving Mucha.

New Zealand and Slovakia moved even with Italy and Paraguay in Group F, as all four teams remain level after the first round of matches. Italy opened defense of its World Cup title Monday with a 1-1 tie against Paraguay.

Group F resumes Sunday, when Slovakia plays Paraguay and New Zealand plays the Italians.

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