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| Ghana Make Superb Through, Czechs Out |
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World Cup debutants Ghana made the biggest upset so far at the 2006 tournament after winning the last match of the round robin on Thursday to go through alongside Italy from Group E, the real Group of Death, and to send far high-rated Czech Republic packing.? The Czechs, world number two team on the FIFA world rankings, lost 2-0 to the eventual group winners Italy in Hamburg, finishing only three points with one win and two losses. Ghana eliminated the United States at the same time in Nuremberg with a 2-1 win to take the second position with six points from two wins and one loss. Italy will face Australia, the runner-up of the Group F who drew Croatia 2-2 later on the day, while Ghana set up a clash against the Group F leaders Brazil in the knockout phase.
Having been sitting comfortably atop the group, Brazil scored through double-scorer Ronaldo, Juninho Pernambucano and Gilberto to deny an earlier 1-0 lead by Japan, and substituted Kaka and Ronaldinho with 20 minutes remaining. With the victory, the South Americans, who have made appearances in all the past 17 editions of the tournament and won it in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002, extended a winning streak in the World Cup to ten victories. "We're happy and you can imagine how happy the whole nation are back in Ghana. I am proud to make 20 million Ghanaians happy," said Ghana's coach Ratomir Dujkovic after the match. "We are in the last 16, we are happy and satisfied." Haminu Draman, 20, opened the scoring for the African side in the 22nd minute, when he dispossessed US midfielder Claudio Reyna and ran in from the left edge of the area to slot the ball past US goalkeeper Kasey Keller. Clint Dempsey equalized for the United States in the 43rd minute, when Marcus Beasley stole the ball from Derek Boatend to fire in a superb low ball into the path of Dempsey who shot past keeper Richard Kingston. But the African side retook the lead after only five minutes. Ghana skipper Stephen Appiah scored from a penalty after Razak Pimpong had been fouled in the box. Ghana, who lost to Italy 2-0 and beat the Czech Republic 2-0 in the previous two group games, will miss their top star Michael Essien, who plays with English premier league champions Chelsea, in the Brazil match for being shown a yellow card Thursday, his second in the tournament. Czech Republic had been reduced to ten men after defensive midfielder Jan Polak brought down Francesco Totti from behind to receive a second yellow. The two Italian goals all came from substitutes. Defender MarcoMaterazzi, who substituted injured Alessandro Nesta in the first half, headed a corner home in the 26th minute to gift Italy 1-0 lead over desperate Czechs. Filippo Inzaghi, who replaced Alberto Gilardino in the second half, sealed the win for Italy in the 87th minute when he beat an offside trap, dribbling the ball from midfield to the penalty area, and danced past the keeper Petr Cech to steer the ball into the open net. Italy only need a tie for advancement but the Czechs must win to ensure a berth in the last 16. Croatia had also playing their last minutes in the World Cup with a ten-man squad after Simic was red-carded for a second bookable offence after his rash challenge on Kewell in with less then 10 minutes to go. The highly expected European side had the dream start when Darijo Srna sent a blistering free-kick into the top left-hand corner only two minutes into the game, but Australia leveled it on the 38th minute when center back Craig Moore slammed a penalty in after Stejpan Tomas was fouled inside the area. Playmaker Niko Kovac's long shot again put Croatia in lead at 56, before Harry Kewell headed home a dramatic equalizer in the 78th minute with receiving a cross from Brett Emerton through a free kick just right out off the box. After beating Japan 3-1 at their group opener, a draw would be enough to send Australia into the second round. Japan failed to repeat a superb performance of making the second-round in 2002, and have been ruled out a slim chance to reach the knockout stages after being beaten by Brazil, with only one point from the World Cup round robin, also losing 3-1 to Australia and drawing 0-0 with Croatia. Brazilian star Zico's side had needed a two-goal win from the defending champions to keep alive. Tamada Keiji scored the surprising goal for Japan in 34 minutes as he was picked out supremely by Alex with a cross into the Brazil box and lofted the ball delightfully past Dida to the up and close corner of the net. Ronaldo equalized it with the final touch of the half, heading in his 13th World Cup goal at the far corner on the 46th minute. Juninho then put the defending champions further ahead, launching a stab from distance at 53 and the ball curled and looped and totally evaded Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi's clutches en route to the back of the net. Just six minutes later, Gilberto rifled home an absolute cracker as Japan continued to struggle. Ronaldinho was the chief creator as he sent Gilberto sprinting clear, who rather than picking out Ronaldo in the box fired the ball straight along the ground to make it 3-1. And there came the second goal of Brazil's all-time scorer Ronaldo for this game with 9 minutes on the clock, when the Real Madrid star unleashed an absolute beauty swiveling into the back of the net, leaving Japanese goalie Kawaguchi just could do little. After scoring twice against Japan, the all-time leading scorer of Brazil Ronaldo became the joint highest scorer in World Cup history, alongside who also have 4 goals in the tournament. "Ronaldo has been playing for the good moment. He played today in the best physical condition, and I hope he'll perform much better and score more goals in next phase," said Brazil's coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. (Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2006) |
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