Final Score - WC2010 Second Round, Netherlands vs New Zealand

Monday 28th June 2010 - Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban - Att. 61,962
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

LINEUPS:
Netherlands (451): Vorm, van der Wiel, van Bronckhorst, Heitinga, Mathijsen (Afellay 79'), de Jong, Sneijder, van Bommel (Braafheid 105'), van Persie (Huntelaar 55'), Babel, Robben
New Zealand (343): Paston, Reid, Smith, Nelson, Lochhead, Bertos, Elliott, Vicelich (Clapham 58'), Fallon (Brockie 90'), Wood (McGlinchy 72'), Killen

It was a big day for Holland's Michel Vorm as he had to star this second round match in goal with Stekelenberg suspended, and Ryan Babel got another chance playing up front for the injured Kuyt. For New Zealand they chose to start Chris Wood in attack for a suspended Shane Semltz.

New Zealand held their own against one of the tournament favourites in a match that could have gone either way. They were helped in the 34th minute when Nigel de Jong received his second yellow card of the day to put the Netherlands down to ten men. Prior to this Holland had chances for van Persie and Babel but one was too high and the second deflected for a simple save.

Immediately after the sending off New Zealand had their first look at goal but Rory Fallon headed Smith's cross wide of goal. The first half concluded after another chance for both sides. van Bommel latched onto a poor punch by Paston but shot well wide, and Tommy Smith ran hard to get onto a low free kick only to smash it into the stands.

New Zealand then really should have taken the lead on the hour mark but Vorm proved his worth by getting down very low to stop Wood's fierce effort. The second half as a whole though was a careful affair leading to an even more careful extra time so it would all come down to penalties. Both sides held their nerve extremely well, giving Holland a 6-5 lead, until Michael McGlinchy crashed his shot against the crossbar to end the dream.

Netherlands 0 AET 0 New Zealand, Netherlands win 6-5 on penalties
Goalscorers:
None

Penalties:
NED Babel, Sniedjer, Robben, van der Wiel, Huntelaar, van Bronckhorst
NZL Reid, Killen, Brockie, Elliott, Lochhead, McGlinchy

Discipline:
NED de Jong 6'
NED de Jong 34' (off)
NED Babel 51'

Man of the Match:
NZL Winston Reid

Final Score - WC2010 Group F, Paraguay vs New Zealand

Thursday 24th June 2010 - Peter Mokoba Stadium, Polokwane - Att. 34,850
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)

LINEUPS:
Paraguay (442): Villar, Bonet, Morel, de Silva, Alcaraz, Caceres, Valdez (Caniza 89'), Vera, Barrios (Benetez 55'), Santa Cruz, Riveros (Barreto 78')
New Zealand (343): Paston, Reid, Smith, Nelson, Lochhead, Bertos, Elliot (Brown 79'), Vicelich (Mulligan 63'), Fallon, Smeltz, Killen

This match may not have had the action of the previous but it more than made up for it in intensity as Paraguay win the game but lose the war. The first half-hour had little to offer but a yellow card to New Zealand's Shane Smeltz would suspend him for the second round if his team made it out of the group. Another foul by the All Whites gave Paraguay the first chance of the game when Mark Paston charged out of his goalmouth and brought down Enrique Vera before converting the spot kick himself. Vera had intercepted a bad pass and dribbled his way into the area before the referee made his easy decision.

With more unimaginative but tense play New Zealand had the chance to equalise before halftime when Bertos placed a delightful chip over the defense for Rory Fallon who shot it straight at Villar. Paraguay needed another goal to finish above NZL on goal difference and nine minutes after the restart a reflex save from Paston stopped Barrios from scoring it on a fine free kick that the keeper saw very late.

The South American side kept up the pressure but were unable to really break down their opponents defence led by Ryan Nelson, and their next best chance came when Claudio Morel came up with a great run from defence before shooting it into the side netting. So, it ends 1-0 and the even GD of New Zealand barely gets them into an historic second round while Paraguay rue their missed chances throughout the group stage.

Paraguay 1 - 0 New Zealand
Goalscorers:
PAR Vera 31'

Discipline:
NZL Smeltz 18'
NZL Paston 30'
PAR Riveros 57'
NZL Smith 68'

Man of the Match:
NZL Ryan Nelson

GROUP F
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Italy	3	1	2	0	2	1	+1	5
New Zealand	3	1	1	1	1	1	0	4
Paragauy	3	1	1	1	1	2	-1	4
Slovakia	3	1	0	2	3	3	0	3

Final Score - WC2010 Group F, Italy vs New Zealand

Sunday 20th June 2010 - Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit - Att. 38,229
Referee: Carlos Batres (Guatemala)

LINEUPS:
Italy (451): Marchetti, Zambrotta, Criscito, Cannavaro, Chiellini (Pirlo 45'), De Rossi (Gatusso 61'), Montolivo, Marchisio, Gilardino (Pazzini 84'), Iaquinta, Pepe
New Zealand (343): Paston, Reid, Smith, Nelson, Lochhead, Bertos, Elliot (Barron 90'), Vicelich (Clapham 74'), Fallon, Smeltz, Killen (Brockie 43')

New Zealand sit atop Group F after another impressive performance earned them a draw against Italy. The Italians started the more dangerous with Gilardino sending his 13th minute header goalbound but for a backtracking defender clearing the ball off the line. A long period of stalemate followed, eventually broken up by Smeltz getting onto the end of a Fallon ball, forcing a good save out of Marchetti. Chris Killen was a first half substitute for New Zealand but an update later in the day reported that his injury was not severe and he would return for the final group game. Chiellini was also taken off at the interval for precautionary reason.

After halftime it was the All Whites that dictated the early play as they split open the Italian defense; Marchetti again on his toes stopping Fallon. As time ran down Italy had more of the possession which led to chances for Iaquinta (head over) and Marchisio (saved), but they nearly stole all three points in an audacious chip from Pepe who very nearly caught Paston off guard.

Italy 0 - 0 New Zealand
Goalscorers:
None

Discipline:
NZL Smeltz 51'

Man of the Match:
NZL Ryan Nelson

GROUP F
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
New Zealand	2	1	1	0	1	0	+1	4
Slovakia	2	1	0	1	2	1	+1	3
Italy	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	2
Paragauy	2	0	1	1	0	2	-2	1

Final Score - WC2010 Group F, New Zealand vs Slovakia

Tuesday 15th June 2010 - Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg. Att: 23,871
Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)

LINEUPS:
New Zealand (343): Paston, Reid, Smith, Nelson, Lochhead, Bertos, Elliot (Brown 78'), Vicelich, Fallon (Wood 61'), Smeltz (Brockie (69'), Killen
Slovakia (451): Mucha, Pekarik, Zabavnik, Skrtel, Durica, Strba (Kozak 71'), Weiss (Sapara 85'), Hamsik, Vittek, Jendrisek (Kucka 55'), Stoch

This game of two halves revolved around five minutes early in the second half when Marek Hamsik picked up two yellow cards and was given his marching orders. Throughout the first forty-five minutes his Slovakian side was controlling the game and generating chances. Mark Paston was sharp however, smartly stopping a pair of Vladimir Weiss shots.

After the sending off Slovakia had to reshuffle their midfield who dictated so much of the earlier play allowing the All Whites to finally get on the front foot. Yet they had to wait until the final ten minutes for real goalscoring opportunities when first Vicelich and then Wood had their shots saved and deflected.

With the referee checking his watch ready to blow for the match New Zealand won a corner. Leo Bertos, who was the lone spark in their midfield, received the ball on a short play and crossed it hard through the goalmouth where substitute Jeremy Brockie was standing on the far post to score and give his side an historic first ever World Cup win and putting them on top of Group F.

New Zealand 1 - 0 Slovakia
Goalscorers:
NZL Brockie 90'

Discipline:
SVK Hamsik 48'
SVK Hamsik 53' (Off)

Man of the Match:
NZL Leo Bertos

GROUP F
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
New Zealand	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	3
Italy	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Paragauy	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Slovakia	1	0	0	1	0	1	-1	0