Live coverage has concluded, please click here for the full match wrap.
NZ 2 (Tuiloma, Wood) Curacao 1 (Janga)
7:15am
Make no mistake, this has been a brilliant victory for the All Whites.
Danny Hay's not been able to pick some of his best players, stuck in Australia and New Zealand, and have held on to beat a side ranked more than 40 places above them in the world rankings.
NZ will finish their October window in a couple of days against Bahrain at the same venue.
Stay tuned for a full wrap of the action, otherwise we'll see you at the same time on Wednesday for the All Whites v Bahrain!
FULLTIME
But the corner amounts to nothing, and that's that! The whistle goes, and New Zealand secure a brilliant victory in trying conditions!
95 mins
Cacace and Junhinho Bacuna are both booked after a clash inside the NZ half.
Free kick for Curacao, Bacuna sends it forward, but Wood gets a vital touch to give away a corner.
94 mins
Staminec wins the ball in the corner, and frees the attack. The ball works forward for Just who shoots straight at Bodak.
Curacao attack again - can they equalise?
90 mins
The corner's too deep, and it goes into touch for a goal kick. Marinovic is booked for time wasting.
89 mins
The board goes up to indicate five minutes of injury time.
Jango wins a corner for Curacao.
88 mins
The All Whites are temporarily down to 10 men with Tuiloma off injured, so Tommy Smith wins a free kick right inside the NZ half.
Elsewhere, Kelvin Kalua replaces Niko Kirwan at right back, coming on for his debut.
85 mins
Chance for Curacao! A quick free kick has the All Whites scrambling back, but Marinovic makes a stunning save at his near post to keep Curacao out!
Corner for Curacao.
83 mins
Kirwan is booked for a challenge on Antonia. The All Whites have changed tack and looking to tighten up at the back from here.
81 mins
Into the final 10 minutes, can the All Whites hang on?
77 mins
Danny Hay's changing things up. Sarpreet Singh is replaced by centre back Tommy Smith.
Defensive substitution, but it should allow greater freedom for Kirwan and Cacace as wing backs.
76 mins
All set to resume, Bell stands over the free kick.
His effort is headed away.
75 mins
De Jong is fouled inside Curacao's half, so we'll have the final drinks break.
71 mins - GOAL CURACAO
Uh oh. The ball's crossed in to the NZ area, and Kirwan misses his header. Antonia crosses it again for Janga, who holds off Pijnaker and rifles it past Marinovic.
Game on.
70 mins
Antonia is through for Curacao, and is one on one with Marinovic, but he's offside.
Just for good measure, his finish is perfect into the back of the net.
69 mins
The subs combine straight away as Just tries to slip de Jong through on goal, but he can't quite control possession.
67 mins
Time for some subs. Garbett is replaced by Elijah Just, McCowatt is replaced by Andre de Jong.
66 mins
McCowatt dances past three defenders, before he's taken out by defender Ayrton Statie.
That's a nasty foul, Statie is lucky to stay on the field.
Free kick for NZ.
64 mins
Juninho Bacuna skips past the All Whites defence, before he gets a shot away.
There's no power on it though, as Marinovic dives to his right to make the save.
62 mins
Slight delay as McCowatt gives away a free kick, will we stop for a drink? Not yet. It is very hot out there.
59 mins
Chance for Curacao! Striker Rangelo Janga is played through, but Pijnaker stands him up, before he shoots straight at Marinovic.
Great defending from Pijnaker, his first real test of the game.
55 mins
Curacao make the substitution we're all waiting for, as Roly Bonevacia enters the fray. He comes on for defender Alberto, meaning he'll either be at centre back, or Curacao are changing their tactics.
50 mins
Chance! Bell clips a ball into the box, where Singh looks to lob the ball over Bodak, but can't get the ball on target!
The danger's not over though, Singh and McCowatt combine in the box, before the ball is laid off to Kirwan, who's effort is over the bar.
49 mins
McCowatt wins a corner on the right, Singh to take it.
But it's headed clear, as Kirwan goes back to Marinovic to build again/
47 mins
Cacace is fouled on the left and wins a free-kick. Singh and Bell stand over it, one left footed, one right.
Singh takes it, and there's a bit of a scramble with no one getting their head on it.
46 mins
No changes for the All Whites after the break, it seems.
And the All Whites kick the second half off.
6:10am
We're back for the second half, can the All Whites keep up their solid showing in the second half?
HALFTIME
Slight scramble from Curacao to end the first half, but there's no doubt who'll be happier at the break!
43 mins
Chance for Curacao! The ball's crossed into the back post, where Marinovic does well to cover the volley and keep it out.
Marinovic is down hurt though, he's collided with the post in making the save. Ouch.
41 mins
Kirwan heads a cross out to concede a corner. Juninho Bacuna takes, but Pijnaker is fouled inside the area to stop any threat/
37 mins
Chance for Curacao with a cross into the box, but Marinovic makes his mind up early and punches the danger clear.
35 mins
Curacao are looking frustrated.
Another chance as Singh slips Wood through, and this time his shot is saved by Bodak.
This could get ugly for Curacao.
33 mins - GOAL NZ
Staminec wins the ball in midfield, and slips it throught to McCowatt. McCowatt takes the ball into the area, before finding Wood unmarked.
Wood doesn't miss from there, firing past the keeper with his left foot to double the score before the break.
31 mins
We're back, and the All Whites go forward after Tuiloma wins the ball. Singh is swamped though, and Curacao regain possession.
30 mins
Drinks break, as the heat takes its toll. Great start to the first half from the All Whites.
29 mins
McCowatt intercepts a back pass, and crosses in for Wood, but the keeper gets there first.
Wood's hardly had a touch so far!
26 mins
Tuiloma blocks a shot, and Curacao win a corner. The ball's swung in and headed clear, but the follow up shot from Curacao is deflected for another corner.
They deliver again, but the ball is cleared again.
23 mins
Singh and McCowatt win a throw-in on the right, but Kirwan is called for offside trying to sneak into the area.
22 mins
McCowatt's back on. Curacao look to play the ball around the back, but NZ's pressing game is asking questions.
NZ can't work an opening, so go all the way back to Marinovic to start again.
20 mins
McCowatt leaves the field for treatment. Probably a blessing in disguise, the heat in Bahrain is nothing short of unforgiving.
We're back underway, but NZ are down to 10 for the time being.
19 mins
Slight delay with McCowatt staying down hurt. Juninho Bacuna has gone in studs up on the forward.
Curacao are already starting to look frustrated at how the game's going.
16 mins
Bell gives away a free kick in midfield for a foul on skipper Bacuna. Curacao go forward, before Bell gives away another free kick, right on the edge of the area.
First test for Marinovic coming up. Kirwan and Garbett make up the two man wall, but the free kick hits a defender and is cleared.
13 mins
Curacao look all at sea after NZ's fast start. Sarpreet Singh is running the show as the focal point of the midfield diamond.
Staminec and Garbett combine in midfield, before Bell finds McCowatt on the left, but concedes a throw in.
9 mins - GOAL NZ
Cacace is fouled wide on the left and wins a free kick for the All Whites. Tuiloma, Singh and Bell stand over the dead ball - will they cross or shoot?
It looks like Tuiloma's going to have a crack. And he scores! The ball takes a wicked deflection off the wall to wrong foot Bodak - and it's in the net!
6 mins
Staminec tests the keeper with a shot from range, but Tyrick Bodak makes the save between the sticks for Curacao.
5 mins
Curacao attack down NZ's right, but Niko Kirwan wins possession. They switch to the left and Cacace, but Staminec is robbed of the ball.
Throw in for NZ, McCowatt loses the ball on the left flank, and Curacao clear the ball out to Tuiloma, who sends it over the top, but the attackers are offside.
2 mins
Straight away, the All Whites - playing in all black - are dominating possession.
Chance as Sarpreet Singh slips Wood through on goal, but the skipper can't hit the target!
1 min
Garbett wins the ball in midfield, and sends it up for McCowatt to chase. It goes into touch for a throw-in.
KICKOFF
We're away as Curacao get the ball rolling in Bahrain.
5:05am
We've just had a brief glimpse of the Curacao XI, former Newcastle United midfielder Vurnon Anita takes the captain's armband, with ex-Aston Villa midfielder Leandro Bacuna as part of a trio with him.
They appear to be playing 4-3-3.
5:04am
Anthems done and dusted, kick-off just moments away.
5:00am
Here we go then, the players make their way out of the tunnel and onto the pitch.
4:50am
We're about 10 minutes from kick-off, still no sign of Curacao's starting side (on paper anyway).
They're coming off a 4-0 defeat to Bahrain a few days ago.
Ex-Wellington Phoenix midfielder Roly Bonevacia is in the squad for Curacao, and could get some game time today.
4:21am
Here's how New Zealand will line up, still no sign of Curacao's team though. First senior caps for Niko Kirwan, Matthew Garbett and Marko Staminec.
All Whites (4-4-2): 20. Stefan Marinovic (GK), 17. Niko Kirwan, 4. Nando Pijnaker, 6. Bill Tuiloma, 13. Liberato Cacace, 8. Joe Bell, 19. Matthew Garbett, 18. Marko Staminec, 10. Sarpreet Singh, 12. Callum McCowatt, 9. Chris Wood (c).
Reserves: 1. Michael Woud, 3. Niko Boxall, 5. Michael Boxall, 7. Elijah Just, 14. Andre de Jong, 15. Kelvin Kalua, 16. Tommy Smith.
4:10am
Good morning to all! We're nearly ready to see the All Whites' return to international football!
We'll have the starting XIs for you shortly.
*****
Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the All Whites' international friendly against Curacao from Al Muharraq Stadium in Arad, Bahrain.
After almost 700 days in the international wilderness, the All Whites will finally return to the field. Danny Hay's side's last outing came all the way back in November 2019 - a 1-0 defeat to Lithuania.
The challenges of COVID-19 has seen Hay forced to pick players located mainly in Europe and America, with none of the A-League contingent able to secure spaces in MIQ for their returns.
But that won't mean any shortage of quality, with Burnley striker Chris Wood likely to captain the side, fresh from leading New Zealand to a history-making performance at this year's Tokyo Olympics, where the OlyWhites won their first match in the tournament's history, before advancing to the knockout stages.
Curacao are 79th in FIFA's world rankings, 42 places higher than the 121st placed All Whites. New Zealand though, are heavy favourites with the bookies.
This is the first of two friendlies to be played in this window for the All Whites, with New Zealand meeting Bahrain on Wednesday morning.
We'll have all the action for you from 4:30am Sunday (NZ time).
TAB odds:
New Zealand $1.95, Curacao $3.30, draw $3.60
