Smeltz lifts New Zealand to victory
Shane Smeltz's header in the 44th minute lifted New Zealand to a 1-0 victory over Honduras in a friendly international football match on Saturday.
A New Zealand attack up the left side saw Jeremy Brockie deliver a crisp cross to Smeltz, who headed past Honduran keeper Noel Vallardes.
The match got off to a slow start in steamy weather on a Cotton Bowl stadium pitch pitted from El Salvador's earlier 2-0 victory over Moldova.
Honduras were unable to capitalise on their late chances to equalize, hitting the post twice.
The victory for the All Whites, ranked 130th in the world, against the 62nd-ranked Honduras was their first since they beat Serbia in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup – where they were unbeaten in group play.
New Zealand's victory followed a 2-2 draw with El Salvador three days earlier.
The two matches in Texas were a warm-up for the All Whites ahead of the OFC Nations Cup in the Solomon Islands.
The tournament doubles as the beginning of a World Cup path that could culminate in an intercontinental playoff against country from the North and Central America and Caribbean region (Concacaf) in November 2013.
Honduras host Panama in the third phase of Concacaf World Cup qualifying on June 8, when El Salvador are at Costa Rica.
