Brazil tops Group G, Kiwis snatch last-gasp draw in 2010 FIFA World Cup
New Zealand’s last-ditch equalizer against Slovakia ensured a four-way tie in Group F after one round, while Brazil moved to the top of Group G after opening their account against a determined North Korea with a wonder strike by Maicon.
In the first match in Group G, the so-called Group of Death, the Ivory Coast and Portugal played out a physical encounter that ended scoreless, despite the abundance of attacking talent in each squad.
New Zealand defied their underdog status to share points with Slovakia, thanks to Winston Reid’s injury-time header. The Oceania minnows are now unexpectedly tied in the group standings with defending champions Italy, after the Azzurri drew with Paraguay a day earlier.
Slovakia 1, New Zealand 1
A dramatic equalizer in time added on saw unheralded New Zealand come from behind to snatch a 1-1 draw with Slovakia in Group F action at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Tuesday.
Slovakia, making their maiden appearance at a World Cup finals, looked to be cruising to victory as the clock ticked down when Winston Reid popped up to nod home Shane Smeltz’s cross and cancel out Robert Vittek’s 50th-minute opener.
In a poor first half, the All Whites produced a workmanlike performance to dull the attacking intent posed by Slovakia, who only sparkled occasionally.
Vladimir Weiss, son of the Slovakia coach, did his best to rouse his team to life, and in the 28th minute played a couple of one-twos on the edge of the box before releasing dangerman Stanislav Sestak, who shot just wide.
Ivory Coast 0, Portugal 0
Portugal and the Ivory Coast hammered each other into a 0-0 deadlock Tuesday in the first Group G match of the World Cup at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
In yet another first-ever meeting between national teams, the fancied Portuguese were the first to threaten when Didier Zokora fouled Christian Ronaldo 30 meters out in the 7th minute. Ronaldo did his trademark legs-apart, deep-breath routine before driving what proved to be a harmless shot into the African wall.
But three minutes later he produced the game’s one moment of class, beautifully turning his man in midfield and unleashing a shot from similar distance that crashed onto the post with Boubacar Barry well beaten.
Shortly afterwards Siaka Tiene tried his luck with a curling free kick from 25 meters but it was always going wide of the Portuguese goal, and two minutes later Ismael Tiote drove over with a speculative effort.
Brazil 2, North Korea 1
A goal of the highest quality from Maicon helped Brazil to a 2-1 victory over a plucky North Korea on Tuesday in the second game of Group G at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.
Maicon put the South Americans ahead on 55 minutes with a shot from what seemed an almost impossible angle from the byline while Elano sealed the win on 72 minutes.
But the South Americans had to survive a late scare when Ji Yun Nam pulled one back for the North Koreans a minute from time.
North Korea, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, showed no signs of being overawed by playing the five-time world champions, also the world’s top-ranked team, and showed defensive discipline and composure, particularly in the first half.
Related posts:
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- FIFA Group B standings at the South Africa World Cup finals
- 2006 World Cup winner Italy crash out, Japan moves through to final 16
- FIFA World Cup : Greece beats Nigeria 2-1, hangs on hope for top 16
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