Thursday 17 June 2010

Fruitful Kiwis Grab Point: New Zealand 1-1 Slovakia 15/6/10


New Zealand line-up: Paston, Lochhead, Reid, Vicelich (Christie, 78'), Nelsen (c), Elliott, Smeltz, Killen (Wood, 72'), Bertos, Fallon, Smith
Slovakia line-up: Mucha, Skrtel, Cech, Zabavnik, Strba, Weiss (Kucka, 91'), Sestak (Holosko, 81'), Vittek (Stoch, 84'), Durica, Hamsik (c), Jendrisek

Slovakia were much the better in the first half with some nice interchanges and creation of decent chances. They had most of the possession and seeked to convert it into goals. Vladimir Weiss impressed the most in midfield as he was the one creating the better chances for Slovakia who should have scored.

They finally managed to break the Kiwi deadlock five minutes into the second half via a cross from Sestak which was coolly met by Vittek who headed the ball home. It didn't seem to inspire New Zealand into getting a equaliser and Slovakia went searching for a second to end the game, Paston proved to be the wall that couldn't be broken again in goal for the 'All Whites'. Slovakia had looked like they had won the game despite not getting the second. However a 93rd minute cross from Shane Smeltz was headed past Mucha by Winston Reid for New Zealand to grab the unlikely point, leaving Group F finely poised.





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