Italy came from behind three times to eventually beat the All Whites 4-3 in the friendly in Pretoria.

Smeltz had put New Zealand ahead in the 13th minute before Alberto Gilardino scored the first of his two goals in the 33rd.

Chris Killen restored New Zealand's lead three minutes before the break before Gilardino replied again early in the second half.

Killen then converted a penalty to put New Zealand ahead for the third time before a brace from Vincenzo Iaquinta turned the game on its head and earned Marcello Lippi's side a second win in five days after Saturday's 3-0 triumph over Northern Ireland.

Lippi fielded a very attack-minded team with Simone Pepe dropping back into midfield, but still being one of four recognised strikers alongside Fabio Quagliarella, Giuseppe Rossi and Quagliarella.

As a result, the Italy team was a bit top heavy and their defensive frailties were soon uncovered by New Zealand.

They struggled mainly with their height and Smeltz took advantage, heading past Marco Amelia, who got a weak hand to the ball, but could not get enough on it to prevent the opening goal.

The World Champions were slow in getting their game going, but Gilardino needed only a sniff of goal to put them level.

Quagliarella lifted the ball up delicately from the goal line for the Fiorentina striker to nod in.

Italy were level for just 10 minutes before New Zealand again laid bare their opponents' weaknesses in defence with Killen this time heading in from a set-piece, this time from a corner.

Andrea Pirlo replaced Rossi at the break and he brought with him some new ideas for Italy, who seemed above all to be suffering with the low temperatures, 20 degrees lower than back home.

They levelled for the second time with another Gilardino header, again from a Quagliarella cross in the 48th minute.

But New Zealand were ahead again in the 57th minute when Killen was brought down by Amelia inside the penalty area. Killen stepped up himself to place his penalty into the bottom corner.

Lippi made four more substitutions with Iaquinta among the new entries.

He has been in sensational form for Juventus in 2009 and he converted that into the national team with two goals in four minutes.

His first came from a long pass forward by Pirlo which he placed inside Glen Moss' near post in the 68th minute.

He then put Italy ahead for the first time as he pounced on the loose ball after Moss only parried a shot from Riccardo Montolivo and beat the New Zealand goalkeeper at his near post once again.

Luca Toni almost got his name on the scoresheet as Italy started to convince in the final 10 minutes, earning a win which puts them in good stead for the upcoming Confederations Cup.