Italy converted a penalty kick in the dying seconds of the game to edge Australia 1-0 in World Cup soccer action today. The Ukraine and Switzerland game went to kicks after the teams remained tied after 120 minutes of play in Germany 2006.
World Cup Soccer Action on June 26, 2006
World Cup Match 53: Italy (1) vs Australia (0)
In dramatic fashion, Francesco Totti of Italy scored on a penalty kick in the dying seconds of the game to edge Australia 1-0 in Round of 16 action in Germany 2006. Despite playing a man short for all but 5 minutes of the second half of the soccer match, Italy managed to keep the persistent Australian attack from scoring. Italian keeper, Buffon, made a number of superb saves to keep his side in the game.
Australia, who last played in the 1974 World Cup, had a world ranking of 42 coming into Germany 2006. Guus Hiddink, their Dutch coach, had previously engineered a semi-final berth for Korea Republic in the 2002 World Cup Soccer.
Italy will likely need to step their game up a notch if they want to beat their next opponent. With a solid defense and brilliant individual skills, you’d think they’d dominate every game they play in. World Cup Match Summary
World Cup Match 54: Switzerland (0) vs Ukraine (1)
Ukraine needed 30 minutes of overtime and penalty kicks to beat Switzerland in Round of 16 play at germany 2006.
Most of the play throughout the game was in the midfield. The game didn’t flow smoothy as any passing plays were usually thwarted by the other team. Despite this, each team had one good scoring chance in the first half.
The ping pong style of play continued into the second half. It was the type of game where you hoped that somebody, anybody would score. A total of 22 shots were taken over 120 minutes, an average of a shot every 5.5 minutes. It was not to be and after 30 minutes of overtime the teams set up for penalty kicks.
Zuberbuehler, the Swiss goalie, and Shovkovskyi, the Ukraine keeper, each stopped the first penalty kicks which were shot right at them. Milevskiy, who took Ukraine’s second kick, scored. Barnetta of Switzerland hit the crossbar on his attempt. Rebrov of Ukraine scored and then Shovkovskyi saved the shot by Switzerland’s Cabanas. The Ukraine just needed Gusev to score to end the game. He did and Ukraine advances to the quarterfinals of the World Cup where they will play Italy.
Unlike previous World Cup matches, the referee handed out only one caution in the entire 120 minutes of play and that wasn’t until the 60th minute. Many more could have been issued but he choose to keep the cards in his pocket. World Cup Game Summary
Italy will play Ukraine in the quarterfinals of Germany 2006 on June 30th in Hamburg (21:00 local time).