 |
|
|
"FC Ballack" pushed by Aussies as Argentina deny Tunisia
Germany, also labelled "FC Ballack" by German press, has narrowly overcome Australia in a match worthy of officially opening the Confederations Cup.
Being called a "Hobby Team", told they were there to "make up the numbers" and that they were there to "enjoy a holiday and sample German beer", the hosts were surprised when Australia came out and pushed them all the way to the final whistle. The Germans got the 4-3 victory, but not without a massive scare first.
Germany set the pace of the match when Lucas Podolski was given space early and fired a shot across the goal from the corner of the penalty area in the opening minute. Australia countered and gave the shaky German defence it's first look at the ball. The attack barely registered in comparison to the first effort, but it would prove the first of many Aussie raids on the German backline.
Not long after Thomas Hitzlsperger blasted the ball over the crossbar, John Aloisi, Tim Cahill and Scott Chipperfield combined before Josip Skoko played through a ball that German keeper Oliver Kahn took easily.
Australia's persistence was frustrating the German crowd but that frustration was relieved slightly when Arne Friedrich rocketed a ball into the penalty area for Kevin Kuranyi to deflect into the back of the Australian net on 17 minutes. The change in direction wrong footing Mark Schwarzer and leaving him helpless.
But if the frustrations were relieved then, it was restored four minutes later when Skoko took advantage of the inexperience of the german defence from a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. Skoko's shot was driven along the ground and under a jumping German wall, leaving Kahn no chance to see the ball until it had passed him and ripped the back of the net. The 21st minute equiliser silencing the home crowd.
In an exciting period of play however, Germany pulled ahead again. After Australia failed to clear a corner kick, Per Mertesacker chipped the ball up and volleyed home a 2-1 lead for Germany in the 24th minute.
Australia continued to pile on preassure, knowing the German defence was frail, and Australia's man of the match Skoko put through a magic ball to release Aloisi who slotted home a goal on 31 minutes. The goal leveling the scores once more and leaving German heads being scratched.
Unfortunatly Australia's defence has also had questions asked of it recently and reasons why were shown when Schwarzer was forced into three outstanding saves in the space of about three or four minutes. To show he could cover the entire goal, his first save pushed the ball around the right post, the second denied Michael Ballack along the ground, and the third pushing the ball around his left post while off balance.
A major turning point affected Australia's defence as Tony Popovic suffered an injury in a wayward tackle. A defensive reshuffle forced Ljubo Milicevic into defence and three minutes later it was Milicevic who was adjuged to have fouled Friedrich in the area and on the hour Ballack put Germany back in the lead from the penalty spot.
Podolski would seemingly put the result beyond doubt on 87 minutes when he fired home Ballack's low cross in a massive defensive lapse by Australia.
However Australia never gave up and while Germany seemed to relax knowing they've picked up three points, Aloisi managed to get through and fire home his second for the evening in the first minute of injury time. Unfortunatly for Australia though, despite attacking for the final 90 seconds, Germany would emerge victorious, although shocked, in the Confed Cup opener.
In the earlier group match Argentina notched up a 2-1 victory over African champions Tunisia. And it was a game dominated by the penalty spot.
Haykel Guemamdia was fouled by Argentine keeper German Lux in the 17th minute but Imed Mhadbebi's shot went wide of the goal missing the chance to put Tunisia ahead of the World Cup qualifiers. Argentina hit the go button and would soon get the chance to show Mhadbebi how to score from the spot when Maximiliano Rodriguez was nudged in the back by Tunisian defender Hatem Trabelsi. Juan Riquelme did the honours on 32 minutes.
The second half saw Argentina double their lead when Javier Saviola expertly guided the ball home while unmarked in the box on 57 minutes.
Tunisia could well have pulled one back when Lux had a mindless moment and dribbled the ball out, only to loose the ball in the process. Luckily Selim Benachour's shot missed the goal.
Tunisia made their raids on goal and when Guemamdia was brought by Lux, the Argentine keeper received a booking. Guemamdia had obviously taken note of Riquelme's efforts earlier as he put the spot kick away on 72 minutes.
Unfortunatly it was evident that Tunisia had recently been in World Cup qualifying action recently as they died out towards the end, Argentina taking the first match in this years Confederations Cup.
16 June, 2005 |
