Four second-half goals have propelled the All Whites to victory over Malaysia in their friendly international at Auckland's North Harbour Stadium.
A contest locked scoreless at halftime broke open after the resumption, with Elija Just, Matt Garbett, Chris Wood and Logan Rogerson all finding the back of the net in a rare win outside Oceania competition.
Sitting almost 40 spots above their rivals on world rankings, New Zealand (95th) took some time to impose themselves on the Malaysians (132nd), but Ben Old was the first to threaten goal, heading a deft cross from Garbett just over the crossbar in the 15th minute.
The Kiwis continued to pepper the area, with Ben Waine almost deflecting the ball past keeper Arif Aiman Hanapi a few minutes later, but they would not enjoy another clear chance until after the break.
Captain Liberato Cacace delivered the ball into the goalmouth, where Just was on hand to poke it past the diving Hanapi and open the scoring in the 53rd minute.
Cacace served as provider again, when he sent a shallower pass to Garbett near the penalty spot and his first-time right foot effort cannoned off the left post.
Wood continued his English Premier League form, heading home past replacement keeper Safawi Rasid, after some precision lead-up from Just and Kosta Barbarouses, while Rogerson was left alone just outside the penalty area and produced a right-foot thunderbolt to complete the rout.
"I think we were dominant [in the first half] and I think it showed," reflected Wood, who came off the bench to replace Waine with half an hour remaining. "We created lots of chances, keeper made some good saves.
"Unfortunately, on some occasions, we didn't finish, but that's life, that's football, but the boys did extremely well in the second half to put the game to bed."
The result was New Zealand's first win over non-Oceania opponents since they beat China at Wellington in March 2023. It was also the most goals they've scored outside their confederation since a 5-1 win over Malaysia at Kuala Lumpur in 1999.
"We moved the ball really well and we were pretty dynamic," said coach Darren Bazeley. "We attacked so many different ways, we attacked by moving the ball side to side, we played through the thirds and broke lines, we got in behind them and looking to put the ball into the box a lot more.
"The number of passes we had in the opposition half and the number of chances were good."
The All Whites have already begun their qualifying campaign for the next World Cup with victory over Tahiti and will continue that schedule against Vanuatu and Samoa at home next month.
NZ 4 (Just, Garbett, Wood & Rogerson) Malaysia 0
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