Perhaps one of the greatest things about the World Cup is the pressure. Three games to prove what you’ve got, and a millisecond here or there could be the difference between going home after three and qualification to the second round — where traditionally, anything is possible.
Slovakia can only be kicking themselves today. Facing an over-matched New Zealand side, it would be flattering to say the Slovaks dominated — the All Whites looked the better of the two in the first half, just lacked any quality in the final third. An early goal to the Slovaks seemed fair, despite a hint of offside.
So how did the scrappy All Whites equalize? Shane Smeltz, the goat of just a few minutes, sent in a great cross that undid the Slovakian defense, though a closer look also shows what happened in their defense.
Smeltz clashes with Hamsik to gain possession of a 50-50 ball. Slovakia holding a good line at the top of the box with under a minute to go.
Smeltz draws two defenders into space, while the All Whites have three men flooding the right-hand side of the penalty area, essentially creating a two on one situation with the furthest Slovakian defender.
Smeltz is given too much room by Hamsik, but credit to the striker for turning quickly and sending in a dipping, curling ball that just eludes the Slovaks. More importantly, this happens while Slovakian defender Jan Durica isn’t looking — perhaps trying to set up the offside trap.
With the ball in the air, the positioning of the defender proves costly because of the way it was struck. Durica can’t turn in time to challenge Winston Reid, who finishes smartly. Cue pandemonium for the Kiwis, and head-hanging for Slovakia. That one second, and Durica’s decision to turn his head — not to mention Hamsik for playing a bit loose — could be the difference between a second round berth and heading back after three.
