New Zealand's Winston Reid celebrates his goal in the dying seconds of extra time to level the score 1-1 against Slovakia. Photo / Photosport
New Zealand's Winston Reid celebrates his goal in the dying seconds of extra time to level the score 1-1 against Slovakia. Photo / Photosport
Eight years ago today… All Whites 1 Slovakia 1
On this day, Winston Reid led the All Whites to one of the country's most famous results in the sport.
Reid's injury-time header claimed a draw for New Zealand against Slovakia, their first ever point at the World Cup finals.
With Kiwi fans not having a lot to cheer for in Russia, two World Cups later is as good a time as any to revisit one of the greatest moments in New Zealand sport.
The goal
The All Whites trailed 1-0 going into injury time, but a dramatic 92nd-minute header from Reid earned New Zealand a draw and with it a competition point.
As Herald reporter Michael Brown pointed out in his report: "That's the first point New Zealand have ever grabbed at a World Cup. Ever.
"Most international pundits had predicted the All Whites would be little more than cannon fodder. The Wall St Journal said this would be the biggest dud of the tournament. People in New Zealand would beg to differ. The All Whites created history."
Winston Reid heads the ball for a goal to level the score at the death. Photo / Photosport
Herald writer Chris Rattue, who also covered the game in South Africa, wrote that it was the greatest sporting moment he's ever seen:
"Winston Reid's name will live on for many years after his last-gasp goal kept alive the All Whites hopes of making the second round of the Fifa World Cup finals.
"His goal gave the All Whites a 1-1 draw against a Slovakia side who were the clear favourites. It also gave the country its first World Cup point.
"I have seen many great New Zealand sporting moments over the years but nothing to match this."
The Herald's Winston Aldworth gave Reid a 9/10 in the game's player ratings: "A bona fide hero. Made a superb goal-saving tackle in the 68th minute and snatched the nation's first World Cup point at the death. A biscuit tin moment to savour."
The best quotes
• All Whites coach Ricki Herbert: "Can it get any better?"
• Winston Reid: "That was the most important goal of my life."
• "I nearly fell down myself so I was just taking him with me": Shane Smeltz - who assisted the goal - joked after losing his balance celebrating the goal and almost took Reid with him over the edge of a 3m-high moat that surrounds the field.
"Slovakia thought they had done just enough to win after Robert Vittek had given them the lead early in the second half, with an excellent back post header from a superb Vladimir Weiss cross from the right.
But in a match in which the Kiwis had more than held their own, they will feel they richly deserved their point as every member of the side played above themselves."
"The World Cup may not have seen a great game yet, but the tournament has been startled. … Nobody supposed this would be the fixture to set the World Cup alight at last. It might as well have been clad in asbestos for most of the time. New Zealand are absolved of blame. Their intent to attack was apparent in the use of three forwards and there is no shame in Herbert's team making few chances."
"While New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert declared the result the best in his country's history, his opposite number Vladimir Weiss will today be coming to terms with a 'sporting tragedy'."
"Slovakia had enjoyed most possession in an opening half littered with errors as the conditions made it difficult for both teams. Few chances were created but New Zealand's good organization enabled them to stay in contention … But just when it seemed they [Slovakia] had secured the points Reid struck to help atone for his earlier mistake and it was the New Zealand players who were celebrating at the end."
