An injury-time goal to substitute Shane Smeltz spared the All Whites' blushes as he blew a 3-0 lead but eventually edged out the Solomon Islands 4-3 in the Oceania Nations Cup tournament third-place playoff game in Honiara today.

The host nation were desperately waiting for the off-side flag but the match officials ignored their entreaties and Smeltz steered a shot over goalkeeper Shadrach Ramoni for his 20th international goal at Lawson Tama Stadium.

A Chris Wood hat-trick gave the All Whites a 3-0 halftime lead but the All Whites had some anxious moments in the second half with two goals to Benjamin Totori and another to Himson Telada.

The game appeared to be heading for a penalty shootout decider before Smeltz saved the Kiwis' bacon.

Despite the relief at the final result, it was still a disastrous tournament for the All Whites after the costly semifinal defeat to New Caledonia on Friday.

The All whites scored eight goals - embellished by today's haul - but the 2010 World Cup finalists conceded seven in five matches against Pacific Island opposition.

Coach Ricki Herbert said today's game reflected the entire tournament, being "tough and tight".

He said it was vital to get a win and said he had deliberately fielded a young team, with all starters aged 25 or younger and nine under 22.

"We had a senior side out [against New Caledonia] that let us down."

He said he wanted to give players opportunities to press their claims for places in the World Cup Oceania playoffs later in the year.

But Herbert admitted the All Whites were still "really hurting". "We've lost so many people down," he said. But he hoped today's victory might help make amends "in some small way".

Wood's first goal in the 11th minute was a gimme with the 1.91m-tall striker towering over diminutive defenders to nod home from close-range. Kosta Barbarouses had beaten pint-sized Ramoni to an Aaron Clapham corner.

Left back Ian Hogg attacked down the flank in the 25th minute and fired over a superb cross over Ramoni for Wood to soar high and head in at the far post.

Wood grabbed his third on the half-hour when Marcos Rojas picked him out inside the area and he steered the ball home despite mis-hitting his shot.

Telada pulled back a goal for the host nation when he lashed home a left-foot drive after being given too much space by the All Whites.

Totori, who injected much-needed zip into the Solomons attack when he came off the bench at 0-3 down, scored one of the easiest goals of his career when he nutmegged Gleeson, his shot from the right-hand extremity of the penalty area dribbling between the keeper's legs into the net.

Wood almost netted a fourth when his thunderous shot from outside the box thudded off the bar.

The All Whites contrived to miss a couple of good opportunities, which proved costly when some Totori magic to tie the game at 3-3 in the final minutes of regulation time. The former Waitakere United forward waltzing past two defenders with slick step-overs before burying his shot in the far top corner

Herbert made eight changes to his starting lineup. Only Gleeson, centreback and captain Tommy Smith and Wood retained their places. All but two of today's team, midfielders Clapham, 25, and Jeremy Brockie, 24, are eligible for the London Olympic Games (under-23) squad.

Tahiti and New Caledonia meet in the tournament final at 4pm today.

Halftime: New Zealand 4 (Chris Wood 3, Shane Smeltz) Solomon Islands 3 (Benjamin Totori 2, Himson Telada). HT: 3-0.