Melbourne: Brett Holman scored the winner deep into injury time to give Australia a 2-1 victory over New Zealand in a friendly at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday.
The AZ Alkmaar midfielder's goal came after Dario Vidosic equalized for Australia in the 57th minute, with New Zealand striker Chris Killen having given the visitor the lead in the 16th minute.
The All Whites, ranked 78th in the world — 58 places below Australia, outplayed the Socceroos in the first half of a World Cup warmup match played in front of 55,659 spectators.
"It wasn't the best of performances, but a win is good," said Holman, a second-half replacement for Everton midfielder Tim Cahill. "We'll take a lot of confidence to South Africa."
Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici made his international debut, with Fulham's Mark Schwarzer absent.
Schwarzer, who injured his thumb in training last week, was one of several first-choice stars not playing for the Socceroos in their last match on home soil before the World Cup.
Harry Kewell, who has a persistent groin problem, Brett Emerton, Luke Wilkshire, Scott Chipperfield and Josh Kennedy were also missing.
Australia coach Pim Verbeek planned to cut his squad from 31 to 27 on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's departure for South Africa. The squad must be reduced to 23 players by June 1.
New Zealand could easily have been two goals up in the first half, with Killen hitting the post in the 24th minute with a swinging volley.
The Socceroos were also lucky not to be reduced to 10 men after a two-footed challenge by midfielder Vince Grella on All Whites winger Leo Bertos resulted in just a yellow card. Cahill was booked for a challenge on Bertos a few minutes later.
Australia's best chance in the first half came late on when striker Scott McDonald's volley was saved by New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Paston.
Australia opens its Group D campaign at the World Cup against Germany on June 13. New Zealand's first match in Group F is against Slovakia in Rustenburg on June 15.
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