Winston Reid's injury-time equaliser grabbed New Zealand their first point at a World Cup finals in a 1-1 draw with Slovakia.
Rustenburg drama leaves Group F up for grabs
Winston Reid's name will go down in New Zealand's admittedly brief footballing folklore after his injury-time equaliser grabbed his country their first point at a World Cup finals in a 1-1 draw with Slovakia.
Vladimir Weiss' Slovakia appeared set to grab the initiative in Group F in their debut appearance at the World Cup finals as an independent nation, but Reid earned his side a dramatic point at the death in the Rustenburg sun.
As the clock ticked past 90 minutes, Slovakia were licking their lips at the prospect of a two-point lead over Group F favourites Italy and Paraguay courtesy of Robert Vittek's second-half header.
But Reid had other ideas in injury-time as he climbed above the Slovak defenders to mark New Zealand's World Cup return following a 28-year absence in memorable style.
Neither side turned on the style, as the game followed the generally tepid trend of this summer's competition, however, New Zealand will now prepare for Sunday's meeting with defending champions Italy on the back of one of the best stories of the tournament so far.
That Blackburn's uncompromising centre-back Ryan Nelsen not only captains the All Whites but is also considered to be their star man gave an indication of the approach of Ricki Herbert's team ahead of kick-off.
However, it was the All Whites who made the attack-minded and threatening start to matters, with Middlesbrough striker Chris Killen heading towards goal in the opening five minutes.
Tony Lochhead was proving a menace on the left for New Zealand against a struggling Slovakia side, who topped Group Three in qualifying to leave the likes of Czech Republic, Poland and Northern Ireland at home this summer.
Problems
Plymouth's Rory Fallon and Killen were continuing to cause problems and the former was inches from connecting with a header as Jan Durica nodded for the relative safety of a corner.
If the truth be told, though, the match was following the drab pattern of the majority of matches at the 2010 World Cup and Slovakia could only muster their first effort in the 20th minute when Manchester City's Vladimir Weiss, son of the manager, fired behind from Marek Hamsik's pass.
Slovakia were poor, apparently making no effort to exploit the wide areas left by New Zealand's rigid back three, and Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel did not mix his words when asking his team-mates to improve their performances.
Stanislav Sestak responded and unleashed an effort that had Mark Paston scrambling, shortly before the New Zealand shot-stopper almost added his name to the burgeoning rogues' gallery of goalkeepers that is emerging in South Africa.
When under no pressure, Paston produced a horrible air-kick, from which Slovakia failed to capitalise, and the goalkeeper was then fortunate as he bizarrely allowed a Durica header to bounce across his six-yard line.
At the halfway stage, Herbert's men had done their intended job of containment, but all their hard work was undone only five minutes after the break as Vittek headed Slovakia in front.
Comfortable
Sestak whipped a good, early cross into the penalty area from the right and, with Reid unable to intercept and a hint of offside, Lille's Vittek used his forehead to open the scoring.
The goal settled Slovakia's nerves and they began to dominate, although there was still a drought of quality as Hamsik sent an 18-yard effort high into the stadium, which again included a number of empty seats.
With 20 minutes remaining, Sestak provided another excellent cross into the penalty area, but his team-mates could not convert as Reid superbly intercepted the low pass.
New Zealand responded by taking off Killen and introducing 18-year-old West Brom striker Chris Wood, but the match was losing what little pace had been added from the goal.
Herbert again hoped that a substitution could help his side to an equaliser with 10 minutes to play as Jeremy Christie came on in place of Ivan Vicelich.
But Slovakia, who brought on Chelsea's Miroslav Stoch in place of goalscorer Vittek, were looking comfortable as three minutes of injury-time arrived.
That luxury, though, turned to pain as Shane Smeltz dug out a superb cross from the left that Reid met with aplomb.
