NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — Defending champion Italy was held to another 1-1 draw Sunday, this time by New Zealand, in the latest World Cup surprise.
The 78th-ranked All Whites took the lead in the seventh minute when the ball glanced off 36-year-old Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, gifting a goal to Shane Smeltz.
A long free kick from Simon Elliott sailed deep into Italy’s area, deflected off Cannavaro’s hip and went directly toward the waiting Smeltz for the tap in.
Riccardo Montolivo hit the post for Italy in the 27th, and Vincenzo Iaquinta equalized two minutes later with a penalty, after Tommy Smith was shown a yellow card for tugging down Daniele De Rossi inside the area.
"We’re just sorry we didn’t win a match we could have," Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. "If we didn’t win against New Zealand it’s our fault.
"Once again the opponent scored on their first chance. We were able to control the game after that, but this was a match we should have won."
Iaquinta appeared to celebrate as if he were blowing a vuvuzela, the plastic trumpets that have become a symbol of the World Cup.
Iaquinta complemented New Zealand’s defense and called it a shame to draw.
"We’ve got to keep our heads up and move on," he said.
Playing in only its second World Cup — having lost all three of its matches in 1982 — New Zealand gained a point for the second consecutive game after also drawing 1-1 with Slovakia in its opener.
New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Paston was virtually flawless, preserving the draw with a leaping save on a long, powerful effort from Montolivo in the 70th.
Italy controlled virtually throughout, but New Zealand nearly won when substitute Chris Wood sent an angled shot just wide in the 83rd.
Paraguay leads Group F with four points, followed by Italy and New Zealand with two points each. Slovakia is last with one point.
Italy was also held to a 1-1 draw by Paraguay in its opener.
The Azzurri looked sharper than they did against the South Americans but couldn’t beat the physical and tall New Zealand players in the air and again had a tough time weaving their way through to the goal.
Italy hasn’t won since beating Sweden 1-0 in a friendly in November, a streak of five games that includes four draws and a 2-1 loss to Mexico in a World Cup warm-up.
Italy concluded with three strikers on the field — Iaquinta and substitutes Antonio Di Natale and Giampaolo Pazzini — but often appeared confused in attack.
Lippi had no excuses, despite missing his top two players — with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and midfielder Andrea Pirlo both injured.
Buffon could miss the rest of the tournament due to a herniated disk.
Both teams pushed forward from the start but were unable to create any clear chances until New Zealand took the lead on a set piece — exactly what Italy was concerned of before the game, considering the physical attributes of the tall All Whites.
The goal was New Zealand’s only shot on goal the entire match.
