It wasn't a match that will be remembered for flowing football but it will be a result remembered for a long time by the half naked New Zealand fans waving their shirts above their heads with ten minutes to go.

It will be remembered because little New Zealand, the team I had down to lose by a few today, fought and battle and did everything necessary to hold off Italy and if it wasn't for a silly mistake and some very good falling over by an Italian, they might have won.

New Zealand also had chances in the second half to win the game but they just couldn't take them and in the second half it was mostly all Italy.

I'm not sure if it is because Italy are bad, the players are tired or if the standard of football at this level just isn't that great and teams that you wouldn't expect to do well are doing well because of that.

The first goal came early and for New Zealand. A free kick is played in from distance and it goes past every Italian player, even the captain fails to clear it and it ends up with former Halifax Town striker Shane Smeltz. He has time, he thinks and he shoots. One-nil to New Zealand.

But it does, for a while anyway. In the 29th minute the ball is played into the Kiwi box and Tommy Smith pulls the shirt of Daniele De Rossi. He goes down faster than you'd expect, a penalty is awarded and converted. Smith picks up a yellow card too.

That was how it stayed for the rest of the match and you know what, New Zealand deserved that point and if they can beat Paraguay next time out, they will qualify.

Group F Table at Full Time

Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
Paraguay	2	1	1	0	2	4
Italy	2	0	2	0	0	2
New Zealand	2	0	2	0	0	2
Slovakia	2	0	1	1	-2	1