New Zealand's World Cup qualifying campaign is in severe danger of coming to a swift end after it suffered a shock 4-2 loss to Vanuatu in their OFC Nations Cup match at Adelaide's Hindmarsh Stadium.

New Zealand's loss, which means it has one win and two losses in the tournament so far, means it must now win its last two matches, against Tahiti and Fiji, as well as sweating on the results of other matches, to progress to the next stage as one of the top two teams from this event.

The loss was even more of a surprise given Vanuatu had not only lost its previous two matches, but failed to score a goal in either.

Vanuatu was ultra-aggressive early, crashing into New Zealand's players at every opportunity, giving up 14 free kicks from fouls in the first half.

NZ, meanwhile, dominated possession and had several good early chances to score, with a Leo Bertos volley saved just 14 seconds into the match, and an Ivan Vicelich header hitting the crossbar in the fifth minute.

But Vanuatu shocked by taking the lead in the 37th minute in its first real attacking move, through attacking midfielder Seimata Chillia, who pounced on a rebound after NZ goalkeeper Mark Paston blocked an Alphose Qorig shot.

Down 1-0 at halftime, NZ second-half substitute striker Vaughan Coveny levelled the scores with a header in the 61st minute.

But Lexa Bule Bibi put Vanuatu back in front just three minutes later, after Chillia set him up for an easy finish with a good run down the middle.

Vanuatu's Jean Emmanuel Maleb added another in the 72nd minute, showing great poise to dummy around New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen, then belt home a left-footer to put his side up by two goals.

Coveny scored his second from a Shane Smeltz cross in the 75th minute to give NZ some hope of a late comeback, but Vanuatu's Alphose Qorig shut the door in the 88th minute, with his side's fourth goal.

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