New Zealand claimed their first ever Confederations Cup point in nine attempts after holding Iraq to a goalless draw at Ellis Park Stadium.

The Asian champions, who needed victory to have any hope of securing their place in the semi-finals from Group A, were dominated for the majority of the game by the All Whites, before eventually falling short.

However it was a night to celebrate for Ricki Herbert's men after they broke a long-standing record of not gaining a point in three previous appearances at the tournament.

Iraq looked threatening early on with their first opportunity coming after six minutes when Mahdi Kareem swung in a corner from the left that was headed into the ground by Emad Mohammed and almost caught Glen Moss by surprise.

Five minutes later a breakaway from the Asian side saw Emad play in Younis Mahmoud, who turned nicely, only to see his shot charged down by the goalkeeper.

At the other end, the All Whites finally managed a shot on goal when Chris Killen was picked out in the box by Jeremy Brockie, but the striker wastefully fired over.

That move seemed to give New Zealand confidence as they then strung together a series of threatening corners, with the best opportunity falling to Ben Sigmund, who powered Simon Elliot's set-piece wide.

Leo Bertos and Shane Smeltz followed that attack up with long-range efforts, before the pair combined nicely, with the Gold Coast United striker missing a glorious chance with a glancing six-yard header wide as the islanders looked a transformed team from the one that lost to Spain and South Africa.

Killen was the culprit of another poor miss just after the half-hour mark when Tim Brown floated in a teasing ball that was saved to his left by goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid.

The Iraqis continued with their struggles as Nashat Akram struck a long-range effort wide, followed by Celtic forward Killen putting another free-header into the stands, taking his side into the break level a 0-0.

Bora Milutinovic looked to have ignited his troops at the break with more attacking intent clearly evident as Karrar Jasim curled in a dangerous free-kick that was well intercepted by Moss, followed by Mahmoud finding the back of the net, only for his effort to be ruled offside.

New Zealand responded by holding the ball up much better, but they failed to carve open the opposing defence as easily as they did in the first half with their first real opening coming in the 83rd minute - substitute Jeremy Christie swinging in a cross from the right that was put wide by Killen.

Jasim then had a good chance to win it and, after cutting outside the right back, he saw his shot somehow kept out by the head of Moss.

Smeltz then miscued a one-on-one chance after doing well to control the ball in the six-yard box, before Jasim saw his long-range strike kept out by Moss, who had Tony Lochhead to thank for a late goal-line clearance as the Oceania champions held out for a first ever Confederations Cup point.