Late Kiwi Goal Leads To 1-1 Draw Against Slovakia
Posted June 15, 2010 12:59 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Slovakia may have been the favoured team heading into Tuesday’s match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenberg against New Zealand, but Kiwi defender Winston Reid’s late header leveled the playing field to a 1-1 draw.
Robert Vittek put the Slovaks on the board early in the second half and he nearly scored again at the 69th minute. Reid put the equalizer in the net during injury time in the 93rd minute and then ripped off his shirt in celebration, earning him a yellow card.
The Group F match was significant for both teams. It was Slovakia’s first appearance at the World Cup as an independent nation and it was New Zealand’s first World Cup goal.
New Zealand managed to defy its underdog status Tuesday, but the team will meet defending champion Italy next.
Slovakia is ranked 34th in the world and New Zealand 78th.
