Some of the discomfort was self-inflicted, and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson allowed a Benjamin Totori cross-cum-shot to roll through his arms and legs in a horrible mistake. Gleeson, who played because of the injuries to Mark Paston and Glen Moss, has been unconvincing throughout the tournament and his place in the squad could be under threat with a good crop of young keepers coming through.
Herbert made a raft of changes today and eight of the starting XI will go on and play at the London Olympics. Aaron Clapham, who had a very good game in the holding midfield role in 37-degree temperatures, was the old man of the team at 25.
The All Whites played better than they have all tournament, bossing the opening 45 minutes and creating plenty of chances, but the Solomon Islands were poor. They lacked spirit, creativity and organisation and the All Whites could have been five goals ahead at the break.
Wood took advantage, heading in two close-range efforts and volleying another into the corner, and his size was clearly an issue for the Solomons' short goalkeeper.
But the Bonitos looked a different side in the second half, and when Totori rifled in an 88th minute goal it looked like the game would go to penalties - no extra time would have been played.
That was until Smeltz was left alone in the box as the Solomons expected the game to stop for a second ball on the pitch and coolly lobbed the keeper.
"Today was about making a small dent back in our reputations and getting our World Cup campaign back on track and we threw that task to a really young group,'' Herbert said. "It was a massive responsibility for them to step up and do that. I thought the best team won by a country mile today.''
The All Whites now need to make sure they do that in the upcoming World Cup playoffs.
New Zealand 4 (Chris Wood 11, 25, 30, Shane Smeltz 90+3) Solomon Islands 3 (Himson Teleda 47, Benjamin Totori 54, 88). HT: 3-0.
