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New Zealand, who don't even have their own domestic professional league, secured their first ever World Cup point after Winston Reid scored a dramatic headed equaliser in the last minute of added time against Slovakia in Rustenburg.
New Zealand got past teams such as New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuata in qualification to book their place in the World Cup finals for only the second time, so today's opening round encounter against Slovakia represented a step up in level.
All Whites' boss Ricki Herbert was able to recall Blackburn defender Ryan Nelson after an ear infection, while there were three other English-based players in the starting line-up -- Chris Killen of Middlesbrough, Tommy Smith from Ipswich and Plymouth's Rory Fallon.
There was a general feeling that anything better than their exploits in Spain 28 years ago, when they lost all three group games, would be an achievement for New Zealand.
However, they pulled of one of the most notable results in the warm-up games, beating Serbia 1-0 to make people sit up and take notice.
Slovakia, meanwhile, were playing their first ever World Cup game and manager Vladimir Weiss was able to start with Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel after he recovered from a foot problem.
The Kiwi squad came into the competition as one of the lowest ranked teams with three players in their squad having played non-league football in England, one that works in a bank and two currently without a club.
But New Zealand defied their lowly ranking in the first period and Killen had the game's first effort on goal after shooting wide in the third minute and shortly after the same player headed into the hands of Everton-bound goalkeeper Jan Mucha.
The Slovakian coach's son, namesake Vladimir Weiss started the game brightly but the Slovaks failed to carve out any clear-cut chances although Robert Vittek fired wide, as did Stanislav Sestak and Marek Hamsik.
The breakthrough came less than five minutes into the second half when Sestak crossed from the right and Vittek beat Mark Paston with a well-directed header.
Slovakia looked to heading for the win but in the 93rd minute Reid headed past Mucha to give the underdogs an historic draw -- and they celebrated as if they'd won the match and the World Cup to boot.
