Honduras would claim New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary served a hometown cook up after he gave Smeltz a gifted-wrapped chance only for the All Whites striker to hit the cross bar and then kick the rebound into Row F.

O'Leary believed he saw a Honduran push Winston Reid in the back from a New Zealand corner, but the decision was questionable at best.

The result was world No.49 New Zealand's fourth consecutive draw after three at the World Cup.

They will rue missed chances after looking the more threatening throughout but the Central Americans, ranked 52, came back hard in the second half.

New Zealand's three-pronged attack had the better chances. Chris Wood, starting his first match, was a constant physical threat in Rory Fallon's absence.

The 18-year-old deserved his first international goal in his 13th appearance, on the stroke of half time, after he rose above the pack to head home a perfect Jeremy Brockie cross.

Wood promptly pulled down his pants to expose his underwear with 'woodzzy' written across his buttocks in a unique, presumptuous, celebration that had the 18,153 crowd in raptures.

The Barnsley loan player looked dangerous several times earlier, breaking into open field only for his footwork close to goal to let him down.

Brockie, too, caused havoc on the right flank. The Newcastle Jets midfielder created space and used speed to out sprint his opponents.

In contrast, a quiet Shane Smeltz and Chris Killen were given limited space.

Honduras should have been level at the break but centre forward Georgie Welcome blew their best chance of the half.

Welcome hit his header across the open goal as keeper Mark Paston stood stranded.

Winston Reid - playing his first match in New Zealand since his 8-year-old days with Takapuna - copped a yellow card in the 26th minute for a shoulder charge.

La Catrachos' Sergio Mendoza picked up the second yellow of the match after the resumption. From the free kick, captain Ryan Nelsen headed the ball into Killen and a minute later Wood had his header tipped over the bar.

The All Whites dominated the first 20 minutes of the second half but Honduras began to push forward.

Paston was forced to pull off a stunning one-handed save to keep his side infront. He palmed away another from a free kick soon after.

Then, the equaliser - in similar fashion to Wood's opening goal. Mauricio Sabillon struck a pearling cross and Walter Martinez belied his size to hit a powerful header past Paston.

Woods had a prime chance to steal the lead but his head in hands said it all as his strike slid past the post, a second clear miss of the match.

Michael McGlinchey replaced Brockie and Jeremy Christie, who picked up a yellow card, sent Tim Brown to the bench.

Defender Ben Sigmund allowed Nelsen to take an early shower as Ivan Vicelich picked up a fourth yellow.

Aaron Clapham was handed a token two-minute debut.