RUSTENBURG (South Africa) (AFP) A stoppage time equaliser by defender Winston Reid saw New Zealand claim the first World Cup point in their history with a 1-1 draw with Slovakia on Tuesday. The All Whites, who lost all three matches in their only other finals appearance in 1982, looked destined for defeat after Robert Vittek had headed Slovakia into a 50th-minute lead in the Group F match. But three minutes into injury time, Reid popped up at the back post to head Shane Smeltzs cross in off the post to deny Slovakia victory in their first World Cup match as an independent nation. It was no more than New Zealand deserved from a scrappy encounter in which Slovakia did little that will worry group rivals Italy or Paraguay, who also drew 1-1 when they met on Monday. With Slovakia struggling to get their passing game going in cold, windy conditions, it was the All Whites who had the better of the chances with both Chris Killen and Smeltz (twice) failing to take good chances before Reid found the net. Middlesbroughs Killen needed only five minutes to underline the threat he poses in the air, outjumping both centrebacks to meet Simon Elliotts inswinging free-kick with a header that was directed straight at Slovakias goalkeeper Jan Mucha. Twenty minutes had elapsed before Slovakia produced a moment of menace, captain Marek Hamsik curling a shot beyond the far post. Gradually they began to assert themselves and, after being played into the box by the lively Vladimir Weiss, Stanislav Sestak toe-poked a shot inches wide of Mark Pastons left-hand upright. Paston, who had already flapped hesitantly at one cross, was fortunate to escape unpunished after completely missing the ball as he attempted to punt the ball clear from the left edge of his box. Vittek then sent a long range effort wide before New Zealands best chance of the opening period fell to Smeltz. The forwards strike from a tight angle was cleanly struck but Muchas touch was enough to deflect it into the side netting. Hamsiks dipping shot had to palmed over by Paston just before half-time and, five minutes after the restart, the Slovakians broke the deadlock. Allowed time on the right, Sestak whipped in a cross and Vittek, who may have been fractionally offside, got away from Reid to send a header beyond Paston and into the bottom corner. Vittek should have made it two at the end of a sweeping counterattack with 20 minutes left, only to be frustrated by Reids full-stretch block. With three minutes left, Smeltz got above Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel only to steer his header wide. New Zealands last chance looked to have gone but Reid had other ideas. Meanwhile, Italy got their title defence off to a stuttering start on Monday when they needed to come from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Paraguay in their World Cup opener. The four-time champions came into the match at Green Point Stadium under pressure after a underwhelming build-up and they had to dig deep to salvage a point. On a cold and wet night, the South Americans stunned Marcello Lippis men by taking the lead on 39 minutes when Antolin Alcaraz outjumped ageing Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro and Daniele De Rossi to head home a cross. De Rossi redeemed himself by grabbing the equaliser eight minutes into the second half, making the most of goalkeeper Justo Villars failure to clear a corner to put the Italians back into the game. Italy, who are often slow to start at big tournaments, turned up the heat after their goal and they could have had more, but Paraguay clung on to share the Group F spoils. Lippi, who led them to the World Cup trophy in 2006, said he was disappointed not to take all three points, but felt his team proved their credentials. Paraguay coach Gerardo Martini was pleased to hold the reigning champions to a draw. Italy had the first sniff of goal after five minutes when the ball bounced kindly for Riccardo Montolivo who shot on the half-volley but it was charged down by Paraguayan defenders. Lippis team were in charge early on, making all the running and looking dangerous on the break as the rain poured down. Vincenzo Iaquinta sent in a teasing cross but Alberto Gilardino couldnt get his head on the end of it as they ramped up the pressure. Paraguay only started to come alive on 20 minutes, and some good build-up saw Torres have a punt from distance only to see the ball squirm well wide. At the other end Montolivo, playing in place of injured AC Milan playmaker Andrea Pirlo, broke free down the middle but could only deliver a weak shot that went straight at the Paraguay keeper. Iaquinta was in the action again soon after and should have done better from inside the six yard box but was hounded off the ball before Alcaraz got the breakthrough by getting on the end of a Aureliano Torres cross. Italy came out for the second-half without veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who apparently had a lower back problem. Federico Marchetti replaced him and he was busy early on with Enrique Vera going close on 53 minutes. Italy though started to take charge and Montolivo got a shot on target before they won the corner that led to the goal. Simone Pepe curled the ball into the box and Villar failed to connect with his punch, leaving the unmarked Di Rossi to bury it in the back of the net. The goal proved a tonic and they went close as they pressed for the winner, with Pepe having the best chance, only to see his powerful long range drive kept out by Villar.