Portugal held but Kiwis grab a point
Source: Agencies |
June 16, 2010, Wednesday
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PORTUGAL got its World Cup finals off to a stuttering start with a goalless draw against a spirited Ivory Coast yesterday, a match that saw the return of Didier Drogba only 11 days after breaking his arm.
Semifinalists at the 2006 finals, Portugal struggled to make a serious impact and made its job of advancing from a fierce Group G, which includes Brazil and North Korea, no easier in a fluid match that yielded only a handful of goalscoring chances.
The Elephants opted to start without Drogba, who was yet to fully recover following surgery, but he came on as a substitute after 66 minutes to a rapturous reception by the Port Elizabeth crowd.
The draw will boost the confidence of the Ivory Coast, which enjoyed most of the possession and always looked dangerous with smooth passing and plenty of energy going forward.
Gervais Kouassi, better known as Gervinho, came in to fill the void and proved himself a constant menace for the Portuguese defence with penetrating runs into the area that left Ricardo Carvalho and Bruno Alvez scrambling.
Ivory Coast had the best of first half action with Kouassi and Emmanuel Eboue commanding the flanks but struggling to create any meaningful attempts on goal on a chilly afternoon at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Cristiano Ronaldo almost got Portugal off the mark 11 minutes into the game when his superb long range effort cannoned off the outside of the post with keeper Boubacar Barry beaten.
Salomon Kalou had an opportunity to put Ivory Coast ahead on 54 minutes when he found space on the edge of the area but struck tamely into the hands of Eduardo.
New Zealand joy
In Rustenburg, New Zealand banished the ghosts of a dismal showing at the 1982 World Cup by notching up its first ever point yesterday. The All Whites, ranked a lowly 78th in the world, snatched a last-gasp equalizer against Slovakia on their return to the sport's biggest stage having been thumped in all three games on their only other appearance at the finals 28 years ago.
Their 1-1 draw, thanks to a Winston Reid header in the third minute of added time, leaves Group F wide open after world champion Italy drew by the same score with Paraguay on Monday.
Pushed forward in search of an equalizer after Robert Vittek had headed Slovakia in front after 50 minutes, Reid timed his run and jump perfectly to meet an angled Shane Smeltz cross from the left with a header that went in off the foot of the post.
"We've never picked up a point in a World Cup. We've thrown some really good punches tonight," coach Ricki Herbert said after the match.
"Tonight is a special night for me. I couldn't be any prouder. The sport I love will be leading (the back) pages," he told a news conference after the game.
"We'll keep on dreaming because we're here."
Semifinalists at the 2006 finals, Portugal struggled to make a serious impact and made its job of advancing from a fierce Group G, which includes Brazil and North Korea, no easier in a fluid match that yielded only a handful of goalscoring chances.
The Elephants opted to start without Drogba, who was yet to fully recover following surgery, but he came on as a substitute after 66 minutes to a rapturous reception by the Port Elizabeth crowd.
The draw will boost the confidence of the Ivory Coast, which enjoyed most of the possession and always looked dangerous with smooth passing and plenty of energy going forward.
Gervais Kouassi, better known as Gervinho, came in to fill the void and proved himself a constant menace for the Portuguese defence with penetrating runs into the area that left Ricardo Carvalho and Bruno Alvez scrambling.
Ivory Coast had the best of first half action with Kouassi and Emmanuel Eboue commanding the flanks but struggling to create any meaningful attempts on goal on a chilly afternoon at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Cristiano Ronaldo almost got Portugal off the mark 11 minutes into the game when his superb long range effort cannoned off the outside of the post with keeper Boubacar Barry beaten.
Salomon Kalou had an opportunity to put Ivory Coast ahead on 54 minutes when he found space on the edge of the area but struck tamely into the hands of Eduardo.
New Zealand joy
In Rustenburg, New Zealand banished the ghosts of a dismal showing at the 1982 World Cup by notching up its first ever point yesterday. The All Whites, ranked a lowly 78th in the world, snatched a last-gasp equalizer against Slovakia on their return to the sport's biggest stage having been thumped in all three games on their only other appearance at the finals 28 years ago.
Their 1-1 draw, thanks to a Winston Reid header in the third minute of added time, leaves Group F wide open after world champion Italy drew by the same score with Paraguay on Monday.
Pushed forward in search of an equalizer after Robert Vittek had headed Slovakia in front after 50 minutes, Reid timed his run and jump perfectly to meet an angled Shane Smeltz cross from the left with a header that went in off the foot of the post.
"We've never picked up a point in a World Cup. We've thrown some really good punches tonight," coach Ricki Herbert said after the match.
"Tonight is a special night for me. I couldn't be any prouder. The sport I love will be leading (the back) pages," he told a news conference after the game.
"We'll keep on dreaming because we're here."
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