Herbert proud as Kiwis earn first point

RUSTENBURG - Manager Ricki Herbert spoke of his great pride as New Zealand won their first-ever World Cup point as a late equalizer secured a 1-1 draw against Slovakia Tuesday.

A header from Slovak striker Robert Vittek in the 50th minute was cancelled by another successful header from New Zealand’s Winston Reid in the dying moments of the match in Rustenburg.

“We’ve got a really proud dressing room,” said Herbert. “We came across with the intention to make a difference and we did that. We played very well against a highly ranked team.

“It would have to be the biggest result in New Zealand’s history. We’ve never got a point in a World Cup, but we’ve thrown some good punches and got what I think was a well-deserved point.”

The result, which follows Monday’s 1-1 draw between reigning champions Italy and Paraguay, means deadlock in Group F, with all four teams level on both points and goal difference.

The draw also produced the first-ever point for Slovakia as an independent nation at a World Cup.

In their only previous World Cup campaign, 1982 in Spain, New Zealand lost all of their three first-round games.

Herbert is a veteran of that campaign. “I thought 28 years ago was a great opportunity for the game (in New Zealand),” he said.

“Qualifying for the World Cup this time is another chance, and after this result it’s only going to get better. It’s created a platform for the next 4-5 years.”

New Zealand made the early running, with Chris Killen a constant threat.

But after their initial burst, the low-ranking Kiwis began conceding more and more chances to the more skilled Slovaks, and particularly to their most-talented player - Marek Hamsik.

In the 22nd, the Slovak captain sent a curling right-footer past the far post. Twenty minutes later, his first-time shot was tipped over the crossbar by New Zealand’s Mark Paston.

In between, a great one-two between midfielder Vladimir Weiss and Stanislav Sestak saw the forward’s powerful rifle finish inches wide.

Slovakia finally got the opener five minutes into the second half, with Sestak firing a cross from the right that Man of the Match Vittek skillfully headed into the back of the net.

Vladimir Weiss’s side gained in confidence after that, but a tendency to over-complicate cost them, and as the final whistle approached, New Zealand mounted a final charge.

Shane Smeltz headed just wide form a Chris Lochhead cross from the left, but Slovakia didn’t heed the warning.

Three minutes into injury-time, Smeltz cross from the left and Reid, who only committed to New Zealand in March, headed an improbable equalizer.

“Reid has been a great coup for us,” said Herbert. “He’s only a young player but he’s got a great heart and spirit.

“He’s redeemed himself with a good finish for getting on the wrong side of the Slovakian when they scored.”

Weiss was understandably dejected. “This is a small sporting tragedy for us - letting in a goal in the last minute,” he said.

“Over the course of the match we were the better team. It’s a pity we didn’t use the chances we had during the match. Unfortunately there was added time and we didn’t cope well with that.”

Slovakia must lift themselves before Sunday’s game with Paraguay.

“Of course it’s a sad mood at the moment, but it also belongs to football,” Weiss said.

“We have to cope with these negative emotions, but I hope we will perform well during the next match.”

New Zealand play world champions Italy.