that there might be injuries in any match played between the two great rivals - escaped with just a yellow card.
And just three minutes later the courageous Bertos was forced off due to a leg injury after being caught again - this time by Cahill, who became the third Socceroo to be booked after catching Bertos when he left his leg up in a tough challenge that was more careless than malicious - unlike Grella's.
In between those three bookings and in the space of just seven minutes, the Kiwis should have been two goals up after the impressive Killen struck a post with a fantastic volley on the turn with Federici beaten.
Australia's first-half performance was then best summed up when Grella tried a ridiculous lob from nearly halfway just before the whistle as the 55,000-strong MCG crowd booed the Socceroos off at the break.
Verbeek made five changes at half-time with Federici, Cahill, Grella, Bresciano and Moore making way for third-string 'keeper Brad Jones as well as Michael Beauchamp, Mile Jedinak, Holman and Valeri.
But the biggest change was when Culina was freed up to play a more attacking role as opposed to the defensive midfield role he was assigned in the first half and it was the Socceroos' 'Energiser bunny' who sparked an immediate second-half improvement.
With Valeri and Jedinak immediately looking comfortable in the defensive midfield roles, Culina was able to push forward with more confidence and it was his great run which set up Australia's equaliser after his shot was deflected into the path of Vidosic, who finished with aplomb with a powerful shot across Mark Paston on the turn.
But Australia had Jones to thank for not falling behind again when he made a great save from point-blank range, Fallon wasting a glorious chance to win the game for the Kiwis by heading straight at Jones after getting on the end of a great cross from Tommy Smith.
The Kiwis looked set to hang on for a deserved draw until Holman popped up to silence his critics with the last kick of the game, but Verbeek will be looking for a much improved performance when Australia faces Denmark on June 1 in the first of its two friendlies in South Africa prior to its first World Cup group game against Germany on June 13.
Australia: 2 (Vidosic 57, Holman 90)
New Zealand: 1 (Killen 16)
Crowd: 55,659 at MCG