Yellow Card | SilverScorpio.Com

Italy 1 New Zealand 1

June 21, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Highlights of Sunday’s World Cup Group F match which saw Italy and New Zealand draw 1-1 at the Mbombela stadium.

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7 – GOAL – ITALY 0 NEW ZEALAND 1 – New Zealand take a shock lead when a long free kick into the box reaches Shane Smeltz who pokes the ball past Federico Marchetti in the Italian goal.

14 – YELLOW CARD – New Zealand forward Rory Fallon is booked for a foul on Fabio Cannavaro.

27 – Italy midfielder Riccardo Montolivo hits a low bending, long-range drive that beats stationary goalkeeper Mark Paston but the ball hits the inside of the post and bounces away.

28 – YELLOW CARD – New Zealand defender Tommy Smith is booked for pulling Daniele De Rossi’s shirt in the area and referee Carlos Batres points to the spot.

29 – GOAL – ITALY 1 NEW ZEALAND 1 – Italy striker Vincenzo Iaquinta sends Paston the wrong way as he confidently puts the ball into the back of the net.

45+2 – HALFTIME – ITALY 1 NEW ZEALAND 1 – The teams go in level at the break, although world champions Italy have dominated after New Zealand’s early goal.

46 – SUBSITUTION – Double change for Italy at the start of the second half with winger Mauro Camoranesi and forward Antonio Di Natale coming on for Simone Pepe and Alberto Gilardino.

61 – SUBSITUTION – Third and final change for Italy with striker Giampaolo Pazzini coming off the bench to replace midfielder Claudio Marchisio.

63 – SUBSTITUTION – New Zealand make a change with forward Chris Wood replacing Fallon.

70 – Italy’s Montolivo hits a fierce low drive from 25 meters and Paston pulls off an excellent one-handed save.

80 – SUBSTITUTION – Midfielder Jeremy Christie is brought on by New Zealand for defender Ivan Vicelich.

83 – New Zealand’s Wood turns his man on the edge of the box and hits a low left-foot shot that goes just wide.

87 – SUBSITUTION – New Zealand captain Ryan Nelson is cautioned for time wasting.

88 – Camoranesi hits a thunderous effort from about 30 meters but Paston pushes the ball behind for a corner.

90+3 – SUBSTITUTION – New Zealand bring on midfielder Andy Barron for forward Chris Killen.

90+5 – FULLTIME – ITALY 1 NEW ZEALAND 1 – New Zealand hang on for a shock 1-1 draw against world champions Italy.

(Writing by Michael Holden)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Batres, Captain Ryan, Claudio Marchisio, Daniele De Rossi, Fabio Cannavaro, free kick, Giampaolo Pazzini, Man On The Edge, Marchetti, Mauro Camoranesi, Paston, Riccardo Montolivo, Ryan Nelson, Shane Smeltz, Stadium Sports, Tommy Smith, Vincenzo Iaquinta, world champions, yellow card, zealand captain

Yellow cards give Serbia coach Antic a headache

June 21, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Serbia coach Radomir Antic is considering resting some of his booked first-choice players for the World Cup Group D match against Australia on Wednesday.

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The entire back four, plus midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic and striker Nikola Zigic, are on one yellow card and could miss the second round match if they progress from a tight group.

“That is a lot of players with one booking and we still haven’t decided what to do, it could be a last-minute decision,” Antic told a news conference on Sunday.

“On the one hand, we have to go for a win and cross the next bridge when we come to it but, on the other, we also have to look ahead because we can’t afford to lose too many starters if we reach the second stage.

“Australia are a fiercely competitive team so it’s good to have central defender Aleksandar Lukovic back from suspension and he is likely to be picked again.”

Lukovic missed the 1-0 win over Germany after being sent off in Serbia’s opening loss to Ghana by the same scoreline.

He is set to take his place back from Neven Subotic, one of the four defenders on a yellow card.

The other three are Branislav Ivanovic, Nemanja Vidic and Aleksandar Kolarov but, given the lack of depth at the back in Serbia’s squad, all three should start against Australia.

FITTEST TEAM

Serbia will qualify for the last 16 if they win and a draw could also be enough depending on the outcome of the Germany-Ghana match at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

Antic was impressed by 10-man Australia’s performance in a 1-1 draw with Ghana on Saturday and acknowledged Serbia had to improve on their fortuitous win over Germany to progress.

“Australia come across as the fittest team in the tournament,” he said. “They had more chances than Ghana to win the game after losing Harry Kewell to a red card and we’ll have to be at our best to beat them.

“Tim Cahill will return from suspension and that will be a massive boost for them while the fans could also be a factor…

“But we will be at full strength and raring to go after beating Germany for the first time in 37 years,” he added.

“That win was more than just three points as it has inspired us to aim for greater heights.”

Winger Milan Jovanovic, who scored the winner against Germany, said the victory against the triple World Cup winners would amount to nothing if Serbia don’t advance from the group.

“It was a great feeling but it will soon be forgotten if we don’t finish the job against the Australians. We must keep that in mind and stay fully focused on the task ahead.”

(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Aleksandar Kolarov, central defender, Competitive Team, first choice, Harry Kewell, Kuzmanovic, midfielder, Minute Decision, news conference, Nikola, reuters, scoreline, Second Stage, Soccer City, Stage Australia, Tight Group, Tim Cahill, Vidic, yellow card, Yellow Cards

Portugal plan all-out attack versus North Korea

June 21, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Portugal need to switch to attack mode against North Korea on Monday to get the big win they may need to open the door to the World Cup second round.

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With Portugal having drawn their Group G opener against Ivory Coast, and with Brazil still to come, second place in the group was always likely to be decided on goal difference.

But North Korea’s battling, well-organized display in their 2-1 loss to the five-times champions has merely made the 2006 runners-up focus even more on finding a way to goal.

“The first game is one in which the team takes fewer risks because naturally they play with an eye on what comes ahead,” said Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz.

“In the second game everything will be much more clear as there is no room to wait. We have to start making things happen and not waiting for them to happen. We have to put our cards on the table and attack.”

Portugal fans and many neutrals will hope a more attacking approach provides the stage for Cristiano Ronaldo to thrive.

The world’s most expensive player has not scored a competitive international goal for almost two years, although he went close against Ivory Coast when he smacked a long-range shot against a post.

APPEAL REJECTED

FIFA rejected Portugal’s appeal against the yellow card he got in the first game so he will have to keep his cool in what is likely to be 90 minutes of close attention to avoid another booking and a ban that would rule him out of the Brazil game.

Queiroz is likely to recall Simao Sabrosa after wide man Danny failed to reproduce his lively in recent friendlies.

However, there is concern that Deco may not be fit to start after injuring his hip in training.

It has been an eventful week for the midfielder who was replaced by Tiago after 62 minutes of the opener, criticized the manager for his tactics and then had to apologize.

North Korea earned widespread praise for their work ethic, discipline and technical ability against Brazil and Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles said he expected more of the same.

“I think they are likely to go in as they did against Brazil, with many men behind the ball and we have to be ready and work to break that defensive barrier.”

For North Korea, the prospect of playing Portugal inevitably brings up discussion of the 1966 World Cup.

Rank outsiders, the Asians had already stunned Italy in the group phase when they raced into a 3-0 lead over Eusebio’s talented Portugal team in the quarter-finals.

The Portuguese stormed back to win 5-3 and, until last week, that was the last the World Cup saw of North Korea.

In truth, other than their 90 minutes at Ellis Park, there has not been much more seen of them since they returned.

Withdrawn and secretive, little is know of how the team or management reacted to an encouraging opening performance.

Coach Kim Jong-hun was hardly dropping any hints when he said: “We will review our tactics and decide whether we need to be a bit more attacking or a bit more defensive.”

(Additional reporting by Shrikesh Laxmidas, editing by Ken Ferris)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: cards on the table, Carlos Queiroz, finding a way, first game, Friendlies, goal difference, International Goal, Ivory Coast, Korea Reuters, midfielder, neutrals, North Korea, Ronaldo, Sabrosa, second game, Technical Ability, Tiago, work ethic, World Cup, yellow card

Tearful Cahill laments “harsh” red card

June 14, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Australian hard man Tim Cahill was reduced to tears by his dismissal in the 4-0 loss to Germany in their World Cup opener on Sunday and said Bastian Schweinsteiger had made too much of the challenge.

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Cahill clattered into the Germany midfielder in the 56th minute of the Group D encounter, staring in disbelief as Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez brandished the red card.

“It was a devastating blow to me and my career,” he told reporters, choking back the tears.

“I think I merited a yellow card, the referee’s decision was too harsh.

“Schweinsteiger made a meal of the incident. That’s why the referee issued a red card. I can understand him. It was to their advantage. That’s football.”

Australia were already 2-0 down by the time Cahill received his marching orders but the Everton midfielder said Australia being reduced to 10 men had distorted the final scoreline.

“I think all the credit goes to Germany,” he added. “They played well, they dominated us throughout the encounter and they deserved to win. But the score was too hard on us.”

Socceroo captain Lucas Neill refused to blame his team mate for the defeat.

“They were the better side,” he said. “Yes, Tim had a red card but he cannot be held responsible for us losing the game. It was a collective responsibility.

“Now we are left with no choice but to win the remaining two games in this round, it’s not going to be easy but we’ll have a try.”

Ghana beat Serbia 1-0 in the other Group D match on Sunday.

(Writing by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Ossian Shine)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Challenge Sports, collective responsibility, disbelief, encounter, Football Australia, Ghana, hard man, Lucas Neill, match, midfielder, referee, reuters, Schweinsteiger, score, scoreline, team mate, Tim Cahill, two games, World Cup Opener, yellow card

Highlights: Germany 4 Australia 0

June 14, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Highlights of Sunday’s second Group D game in the 2010 World Cup finals which saw Germany beat Australia 4-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. 4 – Germany fullback Philipp Lahm blocks the ball in front of goal to deny Australia midfielder Richard Garcia whose right-foot shot from 12 meters is set up by Tim Cahill’s header. 7 – Miroslav Klose breaks clear for Germany but shoots straight at goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and Australia eventually manage to scramble the ball clear. 8 – GERMANY 1 AUSTRALIA 0 – Striker Lukas Podolski opens the scoring with a rising left-foot drive from 10 meters that Schwarzer gets a hand to but cannot keep out after Thomas Mueller, who looks offside, cuts the ball back across the area.

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12 – YELLOW CARD – Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil is booked for diving by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez.

24 – Klose squanders a fantastic chance to put Germany further ahead when he blasts the ball wide with the goal at his mercy after being put through by Podolski.

24 YELLOW CARD – Australia defender Craig Moore is booked for dissent.

26 – GERMANY 2 AUSTRALIA 0 – Klose puts Germany in control with a brave header as he gets between Australia captain Lucas Neill and Schwarzer to meet a perfect Lahm cross from the right. Klose has now scored 49 goals in 97 games for his country.

31 – Ozil is sent clear and lifts the ball over the advancing Schwarzer with his left foot but Neill manages to volley clear from under the bar.

45 + 1 – HALFTIME – Rodriguez brings the first half to a close with Germany in total command against a shaken Australia side who have it all to do in the second half.

46 – SUBSTITUTION – Australia bring on attacking midfielder Brett Holman to replace the defensive-minded Vince Grella in the hope of providing more support to isolated forward Cahill.

56 – RED CARD – Cahill is shown a straight red card for a strong challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger that leaves the German on the ground and the Australians reeling.

60 – Schwarzer denies Klose by rushing out to save his right-foot shot with his feet and Sami Khedira just fails to get on the end of Klose’s low cross from the rebound.

64 – SUBSTITUTION – Australia forward Nikita Rukavytsya replaces midfielder Garcia.

66 – Podolski crosses for Klose whose first-time effort flies just wide of Schwarzer’s right-hand post following another fine move by an unstoppable Germany side.

68 – GERMANY 3 AUSTRALIA 0 – The lively Mueller gets the goal he deserves with a lovely piece of individual skill as he turns Scott Chipperfield and fires a right-foot shot through Neill’s legs that goes in off the post.

69 – SUBSTITUTION – Cacau replaces Klose in attack for Germany.

70 – GERMANY 4 AUSTRALIA 0 – Substitute Cacau makes an instant impact by firing home from close range in front of goal after being set up by Ozil’s low cross into the area.

74 – SUBSTITUTION – Germany bring on forward Mario Gomez to replace attacking midfielder Ozil and Australia introduce Mile Jedinak for Brett Emerton in their midfield.

81 – SUBSTITUTION – Germany introduce winger Marko Marin for Podolski in attack.

90+2 YELLOW CARD – Cacau booked for diving.

90+3 FULL TIME – GERMANY 4 AUSTRALIA 0 – Germany’s young side send out a warning to their rivals for the World Cup trophy with a comprehensive victory over a 10-man Australia team who were outplayed from the start by their impressive opponents.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Area Sports, Brett Holman, Card Germany, Craig Moore, Foot Drive, Fullback, Lucas Neill, Mark Schwarzer, Mesut, Miroslav Klose, offside, Podolski, reuters, Schw, Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller, Tim Cahill, Vince Grella, world cup finals, yellow card

Ghana enjoy a truly African win

June 14, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – An 85th minute penalty by Asamoah Gyan gave Ghana a 1-0 win over Serbia and Africa its first victory of this World Cup finals Sunday in a match which brought a true flavor of the continent to the tournament.

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A stadium more usually home to Springboks rugby matches was transformed into an authentic arena for Africa’s unique way of enjoying football – very noisy and very colorful.

The late winner for Ghana sent their fans, decked out in their striking national colors of green, yellow and red, into rapture and will significantly aid the team’s chances of progressing into the next round.

“This win gives us a boost of confidence for the next matches. But we are going to take it one at a time,” said midfielder Dede Ayew.

Ghana were backed by local South African, sounding vuvuzela trumpets in a coordinated rhythmic fashion, rather than the drone that has been heard at some of the earlier games.

If the opening game Friday, was all about the national pride of South Africa, this was simply about a continent’s true football fans turning out to enjoy a game in the manner to which they are accustomed.

Ghana’s John Pantsil, who caused controversy at the last World Cup by celebrating a win by waving the Israeli flag, was the first to race to the crowd at the final whistle and grab a giant Ghana flag.

He sprinted around the field while the crowd in the stands tumbled around in delight and his team mates danced in the center circle.

The memorable victory celebration came after a largely dull game which only came alive after Serbia were reduced to 10 men by the dismissal of Alekasandar Lukovic for a second yellow card in the 74th minute.

UNNECESSARY HANDBALL

Down a man, the Serbs launched a series of attacks, as if suddenly awakening to the fact that they were about to pick up just a point from their opening game in a tough Group D which also includes Germany and Australia.

Milos Krasic had a fine effort palmed over and then Nemanja Vidic headed over from the resulting corner.

Branislav Ivanovic then went close with a long-range effort after bursting through from the right but Serbia will wish they had shown such adventure and aggression a little earlier.

“In a world cup, when you have two chances in a game you must score one goal,” Serbian striker Danko Lazovic said. “And we missed both.”

The breakthrough finally came at the other end — an unforced and unnecessary handball from substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic, whose raised arm struck a ball hit across the area.

Gyan, who had missed a number of chances, seemed a risky choice for the spot kick, but he confidently drove past Vladimir Stojkovic to grab the lead.

With a goal under his belt, Gyan, who plays for Rennes in France, nearly added a second with a curling shot which struck the far post.

It was the second time Gyan had struck the woodwork — on the hour he had met a long throw with a leap and downward header which scraped the post.

The missed chances and the long stretches of the game where it was more entertaining to watch characters in the stand, including one with a cooking pot on his head, will be irrelevant though to the crowd.

The Ghanaians danced out of the stands, flags waving high and into the streets of what was once the political stronghold of the apartheid regime.

(Editing by Nigel Hunt and Michael Holden)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Dull Game, first victory, football fans, Ghana Flag, Gyan, israeli flag, john pantsil, Lukovic, Memorable Victory, Milos Krasic, National Colors, National Pride, team-mates, Tournament Sports, True Flavor, True Football, victory celebration, Vuvuzela, world cup finals, yellow card

Ghana win brings hope to African teams

June 14, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – As a match, Ghana’s 1-0 win over Serbia was nothing special but as an occasion it will be recalled as long as stories of the first African World Cup are told.

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Ghana, the first African colony to become an independent nation in 1957 as the “winds of change” began to blow away the colonial era on the continent, fittingly became the first African winners of the 2010 tournament.

Hosts South Africa came close to that honor in the opening match against Mexico on Friday and although they were denied a win by a late Mexican equalizer, they had already secured a symbolic victory by hosting the event.

The thousands of home fans in the crowd did not begrudge Ghana their honor though — Africans supporting Africans, the 2,800 miles between Ghana’s capital Accra and Pretoria seemingly reduced to the length of a goal kick.

The heaving, pulsating, vuvuzela-blowing, mass got totally behind Ghana who picked up three points when Asamoah Gyan sent Vladimir Stojkovic the wrong way with an 85th minute penalty, awarded after Zdravko Kuzmanovic needlessly handled in the box.

Serbia, reaching a national milestone of their own by competing in the World Cup as an independent nation for the first time after splitting from Montenegro after the 2006 World Cup, had been reduced to 10 men by then after Aleksandar Lukovic was red carded in the 74th minute for a second yellow card.

SEVERAL CHANCES

They had had several chances of their own to win the game, the best falling to Milos Krasic after 79 minutes whose less than perfect left-foot shot was parried away superbly by Richard Kingson, oddly a goalkeeping team mate of Serbia’s keeper Stojkovic at English Premier League club Wigan Athletic.

The two club mates had greeted each other warmly before the game, but Kingson was the one chaired off the field by his team mates at the end — although he was not the only Ghanaian hero.

John Pantsil, who ran round the field at the end with a giant Ghana flag, and Kevin-Prince Boateng, worked tirelessly in setting up attacks in a match that certainly ebbed and flowed — but with little end product from either team.

Ghana, whose juniors are the reigning Under-20 World Cup holders, and who also lost in the final of the African Nations Cup in January, were more than a match for their opponents, with some sweet flowing moves.

But they need to find a finish to their approach work if they are to advance under their Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac.

Ghana were the fourth African team to play in the tournament following South Africa’s draw with Mexico, Nigeria’s loss to Argentina, and Algeria’s defeat to Slovenia.

Cameroon enter the action on Monday when they play Japan and Ivory Coast join the party on Tuesday when they play Portugal.

Ghana has opened the way for the African countries here and they will all take heart from this notable victory.

(Editing by Michael Holden)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: africans, capital accra, english premier league, Ghana Flag, Goal Kick, Home Fans, Independent Nation, john pantsil, Kuzmanovic, Left Foot, Lukovic, Milos Krasic, Richard Kingson, Symbolic Victory, team mate, team-mates, Tournament Hosts, Wigan Athletic, winds of change, yellow card

World at risk of “red card” over climate: de Boer

June 10, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Climate negotiators gave a standing ovation to the outgoing head of the U.N. climate change secretariat Wednesday even after he told them they would be at risk of a red card in a soccer match for wasting time.

Green Business

Dutchman Yvo de Boer, who steps down from July 1 after four years in the job, said governments were doing too little to stick to a promise to limit a rise in world temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) above pre-industrial times.

In a farewell address at 185-nation climate talks in Bonn, he noted that the world failed to agree a binding treaty at a Copenhagen summit in December. The next major ministerial meeting is in Cancun, Mexico, from November 29-December 10.

“To move toward World Cup imagery: we got a yellow card in Copenhagen and the referee’s hand will edge toward the red one if we fail to deliver in Cancun and beyond,” he said.

De Boer raised the profile of negotiations with straight-talking about climate change that is likely to hit the poor hardest. “You gave a voice to the vulnerable countries,” Leon Charles of Grenada told him during a ceremony.

After a standing ovation for de Boer, his successor, Christiana Figueres of Costa Rica, presented him with a pair of shoes and showed a photograph of how small her feet were in comparison.

Greenpeace said: “Figueres…said she has big shoes to fill. Greepeace recommends running shoes.”

For Reuters latest environment blogs, click on: blogs.reuters.com/environment/

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Binding Treaty, cancun mexico, Christiana Figueres, Climate Change Secretariat, Climate Negotiators, climate talks, copenhagen, dutchman, Farewell Address, Greenpeace, outgoing head, referee, reuters, running shoes, secretariat, standing ovation, Vulnerable Countries, World Temperatures, yellow card, Yvo De Boer

Remarkable Lampard just keeps on giving for Chelsea

May 10, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Pipped as Chelsea’s player of the year by Didier Drogba and somehow left out of the Premier League team of the year, Frank Lampard nevertheless remains the most important player in his club’s title-winning season.

James Milner, Antonio Valencia and Darren Fletcher — all chosen ahead of Lampard in his fellow professionals’ team of the season — have their talents but if you asked 100 managers which midfielder they would prefer in their team you could reasonably expect a landslide victory for the Chelsea man.

Perhaps because he scores so many goals every year people forget what a rare talent Lampard possesses and this season he has surpassed even his own high standards.

He has scored 27 goals, including 22 in the league. Even with 10 of them coming via penalties, that is an astonishing figure for a midfielder and maintains a stunning average of more than 20 goals a season for the past six years.

As well as his uncanny ability to drift into scoring positions Lampard has his fair share of assists and also exerts a calming, authoritative presence.

His self-control is also exemplary as this season he has not collected a single red or yellow card.

Listed as one of Jose Mourinho’s “untouchables” four years ago, Lampard continues to defy the cult of rotation.

This season he played in 36 of Chelsea’s 38 league games, in all five rounds of the FA Cup as well as six Champions League games.

At 31 he remains one of the fittest players in the league and it is no co-incidence that so many of his goals come in the last 20 minutes of games.

His timing has been key in the wider picture too as he produced a goal rush just when Chelsea needed it.

Since the 1-1 draw seven weeks ago at Blackburn Rovers that seemed to hand the title initiative to Manchester United, Lampard has scored 11 goals in nine games, including a remarkable four in the 7-1 rout of Aston Villa.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti, like all his Chelsea predecessors in the last nine years, recognises that Lampard is an extraordinary talent.

“He has scored more than 20 goals and has shown everything,” said the Italian. “Strong character, he never misses a training session, he has played with consistency. I think he gets over eight out of 10 every time and I never give 10 out of 10.”

Ray Wilkins, Chelsea’s midfield maestro in the days when there was nobody to pass to, is also a huge admirer.

“When you see the goals Frank has scored and the level he has played to then you have to say he is world class,” said Ancelotti’s assistant.

“He has the ability to get forward but also the ability to get back and defend. He trains exactly the same as he plays and if there are any young kids listening to what I am saying about Frank, then this is the example to follow.”

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar and ; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: carlo ancelotti, Chelsea Man, darren fletcher, Drogba, fa cup, fair share, Fellow Professionals, Frank Lampard, James Milner, jose mourinho, Landslide Victory, league games, manchester united, predecessors, Rare Talent, rout, self-control, seven weeks, Uncanny Ability, yellow card