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FIFA WORLD CUP: SLOVENIA 1-0 OVER ALGERIA; GHANA 1-0 OVER SERBIA By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Mon, 14 Jun 2010  ANOTHER GOALKEEPER'S MISTAKE GIFTS SLOVENIA WITH A 1-0 WIN OVER ALGERIA It seems that in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the pressure on some goalkeepers is beginning to tell. First it was England?s Green who made a mess of a 25 yard free kick by Dempsey to enable the United States to salvage a draw, Sunday morning Manila Time. That was followed several hours later by Algerian goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi who allowed what looked like a harmless kick by Robert Koren to skip past him and hit the back of the net in the 79th minute. It was Slovenia?s first ever FIFA World Cup victory and they savored every moment of it that enabled them to jump to the top of the Group C standings following the 1-1 draw between one of the favorites England and the dangerous United States. Here is the FIFA report on the match: A mostly cagey but hard-fought affair was settled by the West Bromwich Albion man from a seemingly innocuous shot that bounded past the out-of-sorts Algerian goalkeeper, Faouzi Chaouchi. The two teams packed their midfields and looked to hit on the counter-attack or via dead-ball situations, but Algeria's Nadir Belhadj was the main instigator of attacking football from his left back position. In just the third minute, the Portsmouth player unleashed one of his trademark free-kicks, which seemed destined to dip under the crossbar, but goalkeeper Samir Handanovic was able to punch the 20-yard blast over his bar. The sides continued to feel each other out until around the half-hour mark when the north Africans seemed to gain in confidence, spurred on by the majority of travelling supporters and the South Africans in attendance as well. In the 34th minute, Belhadj won a free-kick down the left and then sent in a dangerous cross. From the resulting corner, which was sent in well by Karim Ziani, Rafik Halliche rose highest and looked certain to score, but he headed agonisingly wide. However, Slovenia's Valter Birsa had perhaps the best chance of the opening period just before the break. But his 25-yard rocket after a quick turn was acrobatically tipped over the crossbar by Chaouchi. After the half-time interval, the two teams continued to battle it out in the middle of the park, but Andraz Kirm looked like opening the accounts just after the hour mark. He found himself alone on the left side of the box after some nice build-up, but his shot was right at the goalkeeper. Algeria brought on Ghezzal for the tiring Rafik Djebbour, but a quick yellow card set him up for disaster as he received another caution in the 73rd minute for bringing down the ball in the box with his arm. Despite going down to 10 men, Algeria almost took the lead when Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic was too lax with a pass and slid it straight into the path of Ziani. But the Udinese netminder scrambled to cover the ball bravely at his feet. In the end, the extra man did not do much for Slovenia, but Budweiser Man of the Match Koren hit his shot well from the edge of the area. Chaouchi seemed to be well-placed to save the shot, but to the shock of the colorful supporters from Algeria, the ball bulged the back of the net. Slovenia next meet USA in Johannesburg's Ellis Park on 18 June, while Algeria will try to rebound against group favorites England the same day in Cape Town. GHANA GETS FIRST WORLD CUP WIN FOR AFRICA Ghana became the first African team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup to score a win and put three points on the board when they scored a well deserved 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Group D opening match at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Ghana looked the better side and played some attractive football but appeared headed for a goalless draw when Serbia made two mistakes that led to their downfall. Aleksandar Lukovic was sent off after he earned a second yellow card for holding back Ghana?s lively Gyan and then a totally unnecessary handball by Zdravko Kuzmanovic off a harmless cross that gave Ghana the break they needed. Gyan stepped up to the spot and sent the ball crashing into the back of the net to seal the win for Ghana. Here?s the match report from FIFA: The game got off to a lively start, with Gyan firing a free-kick narrowly over from the edge of the box before Prince Tagoe shot wide. Ghana continued to press forward. Kwadwo Asamoah?s 18th-minute set-piece found the head of Mensah, who was unable to direct it on target, while Gyan, from six yards out, was just inches from connecting with Boateng?s teasing cross two minutes later when the slightest of touches would have surely broken the deadlock. Serbia spurned a golden opportunity on 26 minutes. Milijas curled a set-piece into the path of Pantelic, who had cleverly spun and lost his marker to find space inside the penalty area. However, the Ajax forward?s control deserted him and the ball went out for a goal-kick. Soon after, Kolarov curled a firmly-stuck free-kick narrowly wide of the post. Ghana emerged from the break in determined mood and proceeded to monopolise possession. The opportunities duly began to flow. Eight minutes after the restart, Tagoe curled a delightful ball to the back post, but the unmarked Ayew somehow failed to hit the target with a close-range header. With the half-hour mark approaching, Gyan stole in front of Vidic to head the ball against the post from five yards, and Tagoe then volleyed wide a difficult chance at the back post. With 16 minutes remaining, Ghana gained a numerical advantage. Lukovic, who had already been booked, held back Gyan and was consequently given a second yellow card. This, curiously, spurred Serbia into life and when Marko Pantelic?s mishit shot fell inviting into the path of Krasic, the CSKA Moscow winger should have done better then shooting straight at goalkeeper Richard Kingson. Milovan Rajevac?s side swiftly regained control, though, and got the reward they merited seven minutes from time. There appeared no danger when an overhit cross from the left travelled towards Kuzmanovic, but he inexplicably handled it to afford Ghana a glorious chance to clinch victory. And that Gyan did, thumping the ball down the middle and into the back of the net. The scorer then hit the post late on, but that will have done little to dampen his delight on an afternoon when he walked away with the Budweiser Man of the Match Award. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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