The 78th-ranked All Whites took the lead in the seventh minute when the ball glanced off 36-year-old Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro and gifted a goal to Shane Smeltz. A long free kick from Simon Elliott sailed deep into Italy's area, deflected off Cannavaro's hip and went directly toward the waiting Smeltz for the tap in.
Riccardo Montolivo hit the post for Italy in the 27th, and Vincenzo Iaquinta equalized two minutes later with a penalty, after Tommy Smith was shown a yellow card for tugging down Daniele De Rossi inside the area.
Iaquinta appeared to celebrate as if he were blowing a vuvuzela, the plastic trumpets that have become a symbol of the World Cup.
At the final whistle, however, the celebration was located in one corner of the Mbombela Stadium, where a small section of New Zealand fans marked their country's historic result by taking their shirts off and waving them around deliriously.
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Playing in only its second World Cup -- having lost all three of its matches in 1982 -- New Zealand gained a point for the second consecutive game after also drawing 1-1 with Slovakia in its opener.
New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Paston was virtually flawless, preserving the draw with a leaping save on a long, powerful effort from Montolivo in the 70th.
Italy controlled virtually throughout, but New Zealand nearly won when substitute Chris Wood sent an angled shot just wide in the 83rd.
Paraguay leads Group F with four points, followed by Italy and New Zealand with two points each. Slovakia is last with one point.
Italy meets Slovakia in its final group match on Thursday. New Zealand faces Paraguay.
Italy was also held to a 1-1 draw by Paraguay in its opener. The Azzurri looked sharper than they did against the South Americans but couldn't beat the physical and tall New Zealand players in the air and again had a tough time weaving their way through to the goal.
Italy hasn't won since beating Sweden 1-0 in a friendly in November, a streak of five games that includes four draws and a 2-1 loss to Mexico in a World Cup warmup.
Be sure to stay with FanHouse for complete coverage from South Africa, as columnist Kevin Blackistone and soccer editor Brian Straus will be on location for the duration of the tournament.
Italy concluded with three strikers on the field -- Iaquinta and substitutes Antonio Di Natale and Giampaolo Pazzini -- often appeared confused in attack.
Italy coach Marcello Lippi had no excuses, despite missing his top two players-with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and midfielder Andrea Pirlo both injured. Buffon could miss the rest of the tournament due to a herniated disk.
Both teams pushed forward from the start but were unable to create any clear chances until New Zealand took the lead on a set piece -- exactly what Italy was concerned of before the game, considering the physical attributes of the tall All Whites.
The goal was New Zealand's only shot on goal the entire match.
Italy didn't get a good look at the goal until the 16th minute when Giorgio Chiellini missed the target with an awful shot from close range. Right back Gianluca Zambrotta then attempted to equalize with a long shot in the 22nd but just missed the top corner, drawing a gasp from the crowd, which clearly featured more Italy supporters.
After Iaquinta's equalizer, the Azzurri kept up the pressure, but Domenico Criscito missed a long shot high in the 31st and Paston had some trouble batting away an attempt by De Rossi from beyond the area in the 45th.
Italy wore black armbands in memory of former national team defender Roberto Rosato, who died Sunday at the age of 66.
Lineups:
Italy: Federico Marchetti, Gianluca Zambrotta, Giorgio Chiellini, Fabio Cannavaro, Domenico Criscito, Daniele De Rossi, Riccardo Montolivo, Claudio Marchisio (Giampaolo Pazzini, 61), Simone Pepe (Mauro Camoranesi, 46), Vincenzo Iaquinta, Alberto Gilardino (Antonio Di Natale, 46).
New Zealand: Mark Paston, Tony Lochhead, Winston Reid, Ivan Vicelich (Jeremy Christie 81), Ryan Nelsen, Simon Elliott, Shane Smeltz, Chris Killen (Andy Barron, 90), Leo Bertos, Rory Fallon (Chris Wood, 63), Tommy Smith.
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Comments (Page 1 of 2)
I am an Italian-American and this story greatly upsets me. It's not like we lost, okay? It was a tie.. first round games are all like this basically. The commentators attitudes towards the Italian players was un-needed too, give us a break.
no, give ME a break... when the defending champions can't pull it together against the 73rd ranked team, and fell to the ground, pounding their fists, rolling and crying (to the extent that the commentators thought it "embarrassing and deeply pathetic"), this was a notable outcome. by the way, they won the last world cup on the basis of all their penalty shots-- read all the times they fell to the ground when the wind ruffed their hair. at this point, i'm not rooting for any european teams-- they all seem to go for the cheap, sleazy foul.
The name of the game needs to be changed from "soccer" to "flopper". I wonder how many acting lessons the players take. They really should give out an Oscar at the academy awards for the "best acting performance in a soccer match".
The Italians can't win an even match game so they try flopping to get card after card. This match should have ended with at least 6-8 cards for the Italians. I guess winning a world cup that way 4 years ago has strengthened such dishonorable play. What a sorry team, embaressing their entire country, maybe they should try to play the other aspect of the game....getting the ball in the net instead of crying foul.
I can't believe the mediocre performance by the 'Azzurri' today. Hopefully they'll evolve quickly to the team they were in '06 before they get elminated.
OMG, get some scoring with that boring game!
you must not be a hockey fan-- same thing. unless, of course, you're talking about whiney prima donnas drawing fouls in which case the NBA is the same thing.
are you talking about americas "past time" baseball? now that is boring.
Saddly, another American, that does not understand soccer. The great thing about this game is that it can be played for 90 minutes, with your heart almost out because you as you watch the game unfolds your team is about to score and it does not, then it does, the rush of this feeling is incredible and one must admire the endurance of these players. Americans love the games where there is instant gratification of points. This game is far from boring, and it is thoughts like this that make the rest of the world think the USA has not business playing a game watched and enjoyed by the rest of the world. Hopefully, this will change.
Watching Flies on Horses_ _t is more exciting than soccer
wouldn't know-- haven't spent much time watching flies on horsesh!t but if that's your thing, hey enjoy. ;-)
No watching flies on horses is like watching two-dimensional American sports... that's why no-one plays them...haven't you figured that out yet?
Are they allowed to score above 1 goal ?
Are they allowed to score over 1 goal ?
Adults following a complex game don't need a score every twenty seconds to feel engrossed. Twelve year olds with ADD playing kiddy sports need that. In soccer goals have intensity because they are rare - that's the whole point. 5.8 billions humans can figure this out, why not you?
Love the Euro trash teams, England, Spain, Italy and France all choking on their over-inflated reputations and contracts!!!!!
bunch damn fools running around,no where to go, just like the supercilious european parliament.
The Worl Cup Football is too much for the USA to take, have to be smart to understand the rules... so.. heheee
What is this called? The world DRAW cup? Wake me up when someone actually wins one. HAHAHAHA
WHOCARES BORING