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New Zealand hold Italy; Paraguay outclass Slovakia
Reigning world champions, Italy have been held to a 1-1 draw by New Zealand in their World Cup Group F match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit। The All Whites took a shock lead after seven minutes when Shane Smeltz turned in Simon Elliot's free kick from close range। Replays showed that Smeltz was offside when Kiwi defender Winston Reid flicked the ball on to him, but the lineman's flag stayed down। The goal instigated a frenzied period of Italian pressure which eventually told when referee Carlos Batres awarded a penalty after defender Tommy Smith tugged at Daniele De Rossi's shirt in the Kiwi's penalty area. Striker, Vincenzo Iaquinta stepped up and sent keeper Mark Paston the wrong way to level the scores. Italy continued to press in the second half but found no route through a spirited and steadfast defense expertly organized by Kiwi captain Ryan Nelsen. Despite throwing on all his three substitutes by the 61st minute, Italian coach, Marcello Lippi and his players found their attacking edge continually blunted. Even their long range efforts were dealt with. In the 70th minute, Riccardo Montolivo's 25-yard drive fizzed towards goal only for keeper Paston to produce the save of the match and push the ball to safety. The stalemate continued, but New Zealand's Chris Wood could have won it for the All Whites in the 83rd minute when he shot narrowly wide of Federico Marchetti's left post.The result leaves Italy progression to the knockout stage in doubt. A win against Slovakia would ensure qualification, but they must rely on New Zealand getting a result against Paraguay to have any chance of topping their group. Coach Lippi said his team lacked "lucidity." "The result is 1-1 so we just have to pull up our socks and win our next game because we don't want to go home early," Lippi said, AFP reported. "We are in a difficult situation but we are not in a panic situation. We will have to win the next match." For New Zealand, a team ranked 73 places below Italy in FIFA's official world rankings, the result is one to savor. "It's an incredible result and it's way above anything we have achieved before against the stature of our competitors," New Zealand's coach Ricki Herbert said, AFP reported. "Anything is possible and we're doing okay for a team who some say shouldn't be playing at this World Cup," he added.
Reigning world champions, Italy have been held to a 1-1 draw by New Zealand in their World Cup Group F match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit। The All Whites took a shock lead after seven minutes when Shane Smeltz turned in Simon Elliot's free kick from close range। Replays showed that Smeltz was offside when Kiwi defender Winston Reid flicked the ball on to him, but the lineman's flag stayed down। The goal instigated a frenzied period of Italian pressure which eventually told when referee Carlos Batres awarded a penalty after defender Tommy Smith tugged at Daniele De Rossi's shirt in the Kiwi's penalty area. Striker, Vincenzo Iaquinta stepped up and sent keeper Mark Paston the wrong way to level the scores. Italy continued to press in the second half but found no route through a spirited and steadfast defense expertly organized by Kiwi captain Ryan Nelsen. Despite throwing on all his three substitutes by the 61st minute, Italian coach, Marcello Lippi and his players found their attacking edge continually blunted. Even their long range efforts were dealt with. In the 70th minute, Riccardo Montolivo's 25-yard drive fizzed towards goal only for keeper Paston to produce the save of the match and push the ball to safety. The stalemate continued, but New Zealand's Chris Wood could have won it for the All Whites in the 83rd minute when he shot narrowly wide of Federico Marchetti's left post.The result leaves Italy progression to the knockout stage in doubt. A win against Slovakia would ensure qualification, but they must rely on New Zealand getting a result against Paraguay to have any chance of topping their group. Coach Lippi said his team lacked "lucidity." "The result is 1-1 so we just have to pull up our socks and win our next game because we don't want to go home early," Lippi said, AFP reported. "We are in a difficult situation but we are not in a panic situation. We will have to win the next match." For New Zealand, a team ranked 73 places below Italy in FIFA's official world rankings, the result is one to savor. "It's an incredible result and it's way above anything we have achieved before against the stature of our competitors," New Zealand's coach Ricki Herbert said, AFP reported. "Anything is possible and we're doing okay for a team who some say shouldn't be playing at this World Cup," he added. 
