All Whites youngster Winston Reid scored his first international goal in the 93rd minute to secure New Zealand its first point at the World Cup finals in a game to be etched into the history of football in the country.
Just as Australia threw a party in Germany in 2006, 21-year-old Reid would have sent New Zealand into delirium with his last minute equalizer.
It was deserved for the underdog side that played on the back foot for the most part and showed guts its neighbours lacked two days ago.
It looked as though it would be heartbreak.
The side was a goal down when striker Shane Smeltz missed a golden chance with minutes to play.
With time and seconds ticking away and games with group favourites Italy and Paraguay still to come, it appeared the chance of a first ever point at the World Cup was unlikely for the All Whites.
Step in Reid.
Playing on the right hand side of defence, he had rarely ventured forward in a defensive Kiwi unit.
But when he did, he took his chance with expertise as Smeltz redeemed himself with a pinpoint cross.
It was all too impressive from a young man who had made his debut against Australia at the MCG in May.
In even younger days, he’d spent much time applying his trade for Denmark’s youth teams.
His header slid into the corner and into the net off the post.
The final whistle sounded moments later, signalling a proud day in a developing football nation.
It signalled the end of a game the Kiwis will never forget.
Earlier, if Chris Killen’s early header gone either side of Slovak keeper Jan Mucha the Kiwis would have been even more difficult to break down for the remainder of the clash.
It was a huge contrast in playing styles from the get-go.
Slovakia relied on a passing game through the centre of midfield and on the pace of Vladimir Weiss and skill of star playmaker Marek Hamsik in wide areas.
The Kiwis, on the other hand, played a route one style to dangerous strikers Killen and Rory Fallon.
The keeper, Mark Paston, showed plenty of nerves after an error with the ball at his feet almost cost his side the opening goal.
He looked as though he would join the list of keeping blunders in South Africa thus far.
The Slovaks opened the scoring five minutes into the second half when Stanislav Sestak found Robert Vittek in the area.
There were hints of offside about the goal, but so there were about Reid’s late equalizer to provide a dramatic edge to what was a largely uneventful and lacklustre affair.
No one in a celebratory New Zealand would care – and nor should they.
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