Reid strikes late leveller
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Winston Reid's surprising equalizer in the additional time brought a surprising 1-1 draw to New Zealand in their World Cup group F match against Slovakia on Tuesday.
With less than one minute left in the extra time, Reid headed the ball home when the Kiwis pumped a cross into the box of Slovakia, leaving everyone stunned by the sudden unfolded story.
It was the first point gained by the All Whites in the FIFA World Cup finals.
The match was also historical to Slovakia as the country won its European qualifying group to secure qualification for the World cup for the first time.
The debutants began their match in South Africa by facing the challenge of New Zealand, a comparatively weak squad in Group F which also includes Italy and Paraguay.
The first golden moment flashed in the 50th minute when a smart and close interchange of passes led Robert Vittek behind Reid to head home a curling cross, leaving no time for New Zealand Mark Paston to save.
To stage their second appearance in FIFA World Cup finals, New Zealand tried to prove their strength since the beginning. Chris Killen got up well at the back post to win a header from a free-kick from the left at the fifth minute, but the ball went straight at Jan Mucha from close range.
However, with the match going on, New Zealand's loose defense offered good chances for Slovakia. A miskicking of left-footed clearance by All Whites' goalkeeper Mark Paston raised the hope for a goal in the 33th minute, but Robert Vittek did not grasp the chance and the danger was finally cleared by defenders of the Kiwis.
Slovakia also had a chance in the 69th minute, in which Vittek tried to shine again. The Turkish Ankaragucu club forward was eager to make four more strikes to equal the all-time Slovak goalscoring record, held by the now-retired Szilard Nemeth.
As the men of Ricki Herbert lost possession, Vittek caught the ball in the area but his charge was dashed into ashes by defender Reid again, whose intervention blocked Vittek's efforts for goal.
Slovakia will meet Paraguay on June 20 while New Zealand will try to challenge Italy at the same day.
