KEY POINTS:
Coach Ricki Herbert rates the All Whites' surprise 2-2 draw with Wales today as on a par with their historic soccer victory over Georgia 12 months ago.
With seven frontline players unavailable for the match at Wrexham, Wales, the New Zealanders were given little chance against the Welsh
side boasting the likes of Manchester United's Ryan Giggs and Liverpool's Craig Bellamy.
But unattached striker Shane Smeltz twice took the All Whites into the lead at the Racecourse Ground, his first strike coming as early as the second minute.
It needed a brace from Bellamy to give Wales, who are preparing for a Euro 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic, a share of the spoils.
Smeltz might have had grabbed a winner 18 minutes from fulltime, but his snap shot rebounded off the inside of a post.
The draw went some way to erasing the disappointment of big away losses to Costa Rica and Venezuela in March and the decision to withdraw from a match against Ukraine on June 7.
Herbert said the defeat of Georgia last May -- the All Whites' first win on European soil -- was pretty special.
"But this, given the composition of our team, is fantastic," he said.
"When people switch on the TV back home they see Giggs and Bellamy. They're household names. So for us to get this result should generate a lot of enthusiasm and creditability for where we're heading."
The All Whites' absentees included striker Chris Killen, midfielders Ivan Vicelich and Simon Elliott, and defenders Ryan Nelsen and Danny Hay.
Herbert had to put out the inexperienced pairing of Andy Boyens and Ben Sigmund in central defence and he described their performance as outstanding.
Boyens twice denied Bellamy with despairing dives, while Sigmund matched his defensive partner in the air and with some well timed challenges.
Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Mark Paston played his part in repelling the Welsh, smothering a point-blank shot from Robbie Earnshaw in the first half and turning around Joe Ledley's drive early in the second.
"It would be very difficult to find someone I wasn't pleased with," Herbert said.
"The real ingredient was a totally collective approach. We were very clear from a physiological point of view after the tour of the Americas that things needed to change and all the boys stuck their hand up and proved a point."
Smeltz gave New Zealand a dream start when he coolly tucked home a shot from close range after good work from Jeremy Christie and Duncan Oughton.
Bellamy put Wales back on level terms in the 18th minute when he side-footed into an empty net after Giggs had broken free down the right.
Smeltz nodded home his second thanks to great ball in from stand-in skipper Tim Brown in the 24th minute.
Bellamy made it 2-2 in the 38th minute by squeezing a drive inside the near post.
Wales had New Zealand under pressure for periods of the second half, but couldn't find the winner.
Smeltz, looking for a contract after being released by English non-league club Halifax, obviously impressed scouts during the match.
Even before he had a chance to shower, a representative of an English League Two (formerly fourth division) club knocked on the dressing room for his mobile number.
Local journalists were keen to know whether Smeltz felt he had proved a point with his performance.
"Maybe, it was a disappointing season but I'm just looking forward now and obviously this is a good start," he said.
"It would have been nice to have got the hat-trick but we'll take a draw. A lot of people will see this result and it will give us a lot of credibility."
SCORING
Wales 2 (Craig Bellamy) New Zealand 2 (Shane Smeltz ). Halftime: 2-2.
- NZPA