NELSPRUIT: World champions Italy suffered an embarrassing 1-1 draw with underdogs New Zealand in their second World Cup Group F match on Sunday, a result which complicates their chances of progressing to the knockout stage.New Zealand, ranked 78th in the world, took a shock lead on seven minutes after struggling Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro made a hash of trying to clear a free kick into the box and Shane Smeltz poked home.It was New Zealand’s only shot on goal the entire match.Italy had talked all week about the difficulties an unchanged New Zealand would pose from dead balls but they did not deal with the danger even if there was a slight suspicion of offside.Coach Marcello Lippi stationed himself at the edge of his technical area with a worried look and his team increased the tempo with Riccardo Montolivo striking the post from distance before they levelled on 29 minutes.Daniele De Rossi tumbled in the box under pressure from Tommy Smith as a cross came over and Vincenzo Iaquinta calmly slotted in the debateable spotkick.Iaquinta appeared to celebrate as if he were blowing a vuvuzela, the plastic trumpets that have become a symbol of this World Cup.At the final whistle, however, the celebration was located in one corner of the Mbombela Stadium, where a small section of New Zealand fans marked their country’s historic result by taking off their shirts and waving them around deliriously.“I’m very very proud,” coach Ricki Herbert said. “We knew we’d be up against it, but we had great resilience and stayed organised.”“It’s fantastic,” Herbert added. “We feel we’re deserving and the nation is going with us to Round 3 (of the opening group games).”On a bright day in northeastern South Africa, where the giraffe-shaped stadium roof supports in Nelspruit glistened in the sun, Italy controlled virtually throughout the match, but New Zealand nearly won when substitute Chris Wood sent an angled shot just wide in the 83rd.Italy, who wore black armbands following the death of 1968 European Championship winner Roberto Rosato, meet Slovakia in their final group game on Thursday at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park needing a handsome win to definitely progress.Paraguay, New Zealand’s next opponents on Thursday, beat Slovakia 2-0 earlier to top the group with four points while Italy and New Zealand have two.