Rowdies’ Christie makes World Cup debut as All Whites earn tie

Posted Jun 15, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jun 15, 2010 at 09:35 AM

FC Tampa Bay Rowdies midfielder Jeremy Christie made his World Cup debut on Tuesday, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute for New Zealand in their opening Group F match against Slovakia as the All Whites grabbed a late equalizer for a 1-1 draw in Rustenburg.

Christie, who was profiled in this morning’s Tribune, had been demoted to the bench after starting in the All Whites’ last two warm-up contests, but was brought on for his replacement in the line-up Ivan Vichelich.

New Zealand, who trailed 1-0 when Christie entered the game after a 50th-minute goal by Slovakia’s Robert Vittek, equalized in the final minute of stoppage time as Winston Reid headed home to secure the All Whites’ first ever point at a World Cup Final. New Zealand lost all three of its contests in its only previous appearance in 1982.