Italy stunned by Kiwi draw
NELSPRUIT:
New Zealand achieved their greatest football result with a stunning 1-1 draw against defending champions Italy’s in their World Cup Group F match.
The All Whites – who lost all three of their matches on their previous appearance in 1982 – took a shock lead through Shane Smeltz in the seventh minute only for Vincenzo Iaquinta to level through a penalty later in the first half.
The draw puts both teams on two points with just a match remaining.
The Italians laid siege to the All Whites’ goal for most of the second half but a combination of resolute Kiwi defence, brave goal-keeping by Mark Paston and errant passes condemned the reigning champions to their second consecutive draw of the tournament.
As much as the four-time champions dominated possession they could not come up with the winner and the Kiwis came close to pulling off an unbelievable victory when substitute Chris Wood fired centimetres wide with seven minutes left.
Italy must now look for a win against Slovakia at Ellis Park on Thursday to ensure they go through to the last 16, while New Zealand have to play Paraguay in Polokwane on the same night.
Paraguay on brink of knockouts
A powerful Paraguay side beat Slovakia 2-0 in Bloemfontein to leave the South Americans on the brink of qualification for the World Cup knockout phase.
A first-half goal from Enrique Vera and a second-half strike from Cristian Riveros at a sun-drenched Free State stadium gave Paraguay the crucial win that takes them to four points with only Group F minnows New Zealand still to play.
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino made his intentions clear from the kick-off with three attackers in his starting eleven, including Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz, and his team established a vice-like grip on the match.
Paraguay took the lead on 27 minutes when Vera bent the ball around the goal-keeper with the outside of his right boot after a pass from Barrios. It followed incessant pressure on the Slovakian defence in a first half in which the eastern Europeans could muster just a single shot to the South Americans’ eight.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2010.
New Zealand achieved their greatest football result with a stunning 1-1 draw against defending champions Italy’s in their World Cup Group F match.
The All Whites – who lost all three of their matches on their previous appearance in 1982 – took a shock lead through Shane Smeltz in the seventh minute only for Vincenzo Iaquinta to level through a penalty later in the first half.
The draw puts both teams on two points with just a match remaining.
The Italians laid siege to the All Whites’ goal for most of the second half but a combination of resolute Kiwi defence, brave goal-keeping by Mark Paston and errant passes condemned the reigning champions to their second consecutive draw of the tournament.
As much as the four-time champions dominated possession they could not come up with the winner and the Kiwis came close to pulling off an unbelievable victory when substitute Chris Wood fired centimetres wide with seven minutes left.
Italy must now look for a win against Slovakia at Ellis Park on Thursday to ensure they go through to the last 16, while New Zealand have to play Paraguay in Polokwane on the same night.
Paraguay on brink of knockouts
A powerful Paraguay side beat Slovakia 2-0 in Bloemfontein to leave the South Americans on the brink of qualification for the World Cup knockout phase.
A first-half goal from Enrique Vera and a second-half strike from Cristian Riveros at a sun-drenched Free State stadium gave Paraguay the crucial win that takes them to four points with only Group F minnows New Zealand still to play.
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino made his intentions clear from the kick-off with three attackers in his starting eleven, including Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz, and his team established a vice-like grip on the match.
Paraguay took the lead on 27 minutes when Vera bent the ball around the goal-keeper with the outside of his right boot after a pass from Barrios. It followed incessant pressure on the Slovakian defence in a first half in which the eastern Europeans could muster just a single shot to the South Americans’ eight.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2010.