All Whites, Honduras draw as Smeltz misses penalty

A missed penalty by Shane Smeltz in the last minute of normal time has ensured New Zealand and Honduras finished one each at North Harbour stadium tonight.

New Zealand burst out of the blocks and Chris Wood nearly turned in a Shane Smeltz shot-cross at the far post in the first few minutes. Smeltz skipped into the area and tried to find the far corner. He dragged his shot slightly and a sliding Wood was unlucky.

The All Whites were guilty of not taking their chances early on, with Brockie the next to shoot wide from a similar angle to Smeltz’ earlier effort.

A great turn and shot by Chris Killen in the 20th minute went even closer. Elliot floated in a left foot cross, Wood headed back and Killen’s shot scraped the outside of the top right hand corner.

Just a minute later Brown should have scored when Brockie found his head, but the Phoenix midfielder headed over from six yards out with no one near him.

It looked like it would finish goalless at the half, but New Zealand struck late to snatch what on balance was probably a well deserved lead. Smeltz picked up the ball deep and found Brockie who beat his man and drove to the byline. His cross from the right was inch perfect and Wood’s head did the rest.

Brockie had looked sharp all half and the benefactor of his cross, Chris Wood, had been a similar concern to the Honduran defence in the first 45.

The All Whites’ physical supremacy nearly saw them add to their lead just two minutes into the second half. Leo Bertos dinked a free kick to the far post, a completely unmarked Nelsen headed across goal and Killen’s scrambled shot was saved off the line by the Honduran keeper.

Wood drew an even better save from Valladares a minute later from another Bertos free kick, this time the Honduran captain flew to the top right hand corner to keep the All Whites out.

On the hour mark Honduras went close twice but Paston was equal on both occasions, throwing himself first to his left to keep out a strong header down low, then to his right to save a Martinez free kick.

The All Whites didn’t heed the warnings and two minutes later Honduras equalised. Walter Martinez popped up just onside at the far post and nodded in past a scrambling Nelsen. The Hondurans had been much improved in the second half, but the equaliser was a harsh reminder for the Kiwis about the price of not taking chances.

Chances were flying thick and fast and Wood dragged an almost certain goal wide from six yards out on the angle.

The two sides traded half chances before the game started to lose its shape in the last ten as the sides tired and the coaches made substitutions.

Superb feet from Smeltz at the death set Wood up for a strike from the edge of the area, which was well turned over by the keeper. From the resulting corner referee Peter O’Leary ensured a dramatic ending.

Reid appeared to be held back and O’Leary pointed to the spot, surrounded by a sea of furious Honduran players. Smeltz stepped up, smashed his shot into the crossbar and somehow lifted the rebound over the bar from three yards out.

His reaction – head buried in his shirt – said it all.

The Kiwis will now head to Wellington for a World Cup rematch with Paraguay on Tuesday.