The team to win this game would top Group F; the group with the world champions, Italy.

Chris Killen had two attempts on goal within the first five minutes, as the All Whites sought to get a foothold in the game.

New Zealand continued to apply the pressure; although Slovakia did look threatening on the break.

Neither team did enough to break the deadlock though; on a sunny but chilly afternoon in Rustenburg. Simon Elliott put a few balls into the Slovakia area and Vladimir Weiss had a few runs at New Zealand, but otherwise - stalemate.

Half-time: 0:0

Slovakia started the second-half more positively; scoring on their second attack, Robert Vittek heading into the bottom corner from Stanislav Sestak's right-wing cross.

But for an excellent tackle by Winston Reid, in the penalty area, Slovakia could have doubled their lead in the 69th minute.

For most of the second-half, New Zealand never looked like threatening Slovakia at all; Sestak causing the Kiwis all sorts of problems, until he was taken off in the 81st minute. The goalscorer, Robert Vittek, soon joined him.

Shane Smeltz had a chance to head New Zealand level in the closing minutes, but wasted the opportunity. He made up for that miss with the cross from the left for Winston Reid to head in off the post and keep the group tight in the dying seconds of the game.

The Slovakia team were totally shell-shocked.

New Zealand 1 Slovakia 1