Posted on 06/22/2006 4:27:15 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Full time: Australia 2 - Croatia 2 HARRY Kewell is a national hero this morning after scoring a vital second-half goal to take Australia into the last 16 of the World Cup.
Kewell's sent the Socceroos into the round of 16 with a stunning late equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw with Croatia in the most remarkable soccer match Australia has ever been involved in.
Kewell's 79th minute goal in its deciding Group F match gave Australia the draw it needed to advance - the second time the Socceroos had fought back from a goal down.
It was an against-the-odds victory secured after a diabolical goalkeeping mistake from Australia's Zeljko Kalac for Croatia's second goal looked like gifting the Croatians the win they needed to advance in second place in the group.
Australia was also denied two clear penalties, while Croatia's Dario Simic and the Socceroos' Brett Emerton were both sent off late in the game after picking up their second yellow cards.
The Socceroos had fought back from a goal down after just two minutes, when Darijo Srna thundered a 25-metre free kick into the top left hand corner to give Croatia the perfect start.
But Australia fought back well and dominated the rest of the half, eventually being awarded a penalty when Stjepan Tomas handballed in the box.
Craig Moore coolly stepped up to slot home the spot-kick seven minutes before halftime to make it 1-1.
With the Socceroos on top, they then fell behind in the 56th minute against the run of play.
Kalac, surprisingly selected by coach Guus Hiddink instead of regular first choice Mark Schwarzer, made a meal of an innocuous long-range shot from Niko Kovac, letting it bounce off his hands over his body to give Croatia the lead.
It looked to have sucked the fight from the Socceroos, but with Hiddink throwing on extra strikers chasing a goal, Kewell found himself in space in the box after a John Aloisi flick-on, shooting home with his right-foot to equalise.
Simic was sent off inside the final few minutes for fouling Kewell - his second yellow card. But things were squared up soon after when Emerton was sent off for handball, earning his second yellow.
Moore also was forced to clear off the line late in the match.
English referee Graham Poll may have had some questions to answer had Australia not advanced, with Mark Viduka denied a clear penalty inside the first 10 minutes when Croatia's Joe Simunic rugby-tackled him in the box.
Then Tomas clearly punched the ball away inside the box again two minutes prior to Kewell's goal.
Poll will also have to answer questions over why Simunic was not sent off in injury time after being shown a second yellow card.
He was allowed to remain on the pitch for a tense final few minutes as Croatia searched for a winner.
Simunic was eventually marched on the final whistle for his third yellow card, but by then the Australians were celebrating.
Australia will now play Italy in the round of 16 in Kaiserslautern on Monday (TUE AEST).
Socceroos captain Mark Viduka said it was an amazing way for the team to qualify for the final 16. "What a game tonight, you could not ask for more," said Viduka.
"It's very difficult when you cop a goal that early in the game but we kept our composure and knew we could do them some damage and we did that.
"We conceded another goal and it was an uphill battle again but we showed all the spirit to do that."
Viduka praised Kewell for a perfect winner to put Australia through to the next stage.
"We threw out all the forwards to try and get a goal and thank god Harry was in the right place at the right time and it was a beautiful goal," said Viduka.
"It was such an end to end game, they had a few chances towards the end but we had a little luck on our side but I think we earned it today."
Australia midfielder Tim Cahill, the two goal hero from the Socceroos first match win over Japan, also praised Kewell for his heroic, man of the match performance.
"This is very special. Harry was very tired but he did it," said Cahill.
"We fought to the end. We are a family out there and we are very disciplined. Whatever anyone throws at us, together we are stronger."
Cahill, who plays for Everton in the English premier league, said the Socceroos have nothing to lose when they take on Italy in Kaiserslautern for a place in the quarter-finals.
"We are confident. With each game we have shown what we are capable of," he said.
Australia coach Guus Hiddink said he always kept faith his team would come back against Croatia after twice falling behind.
"We started sloppy ... it was a terrific free kick and we were one-nil down," said the Dutch master.
"But I know this team has enormous mental power to be able to come back.
"I think in the first half we were dominating the game a great deal of it and then we managed to go on.
"I know this team, this team can react always and it did."
Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar was furious at the goals scored against his side.
"One goal was perhaps offside, the other possibly wasn't a penalty." said Kranjcar.
"We are sad but we must look to the future. I don't want to comment on the referee. It's up to you journalists to do that."
Key moments of the first half of Australia's World Cup Group F match against Croatia in Stuttgart today:
3rd minute - Croat midfielder Darijo Srna scores from a free kick with a magnificent 20-metre strike after Viduka fouled Niko Kovac. Croatia 1, Australia 0.
7th - Viduka appeals for a penalty after being clearly held in the area by Josip Simunic, but nothing given by English referee.
14th - Harry Kewell shoots from distance but wide of right post.
30th - Kewell's powerful shot pushed out for a corner by Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa.
33rd - Jason Culina carries ball near Croatian penalty area and fires powerful shot, but wide of the right post.
38 - Croatian defender Stepjan Tomas handles ball in the box; referee gives penalty to Australia; Craig Moore takes it and makes no mistake. Australia 1, Croatia 1.
49th minute - Emerton carries near Croatian penalty box but his shot wide of tight post.
56th - Niko Kovac from outside penalty area with a not very powerful shot, which bounces off Kalac and into net. Australia 1, Croatia 2.
63rd - John Aloisi comes in for Vince Grella.
71st - Kewell shoots powerfully from inside area, but Croatian goalkeeper pushes ball for a corner.
72nd Substitute Bresciano delivers ball into the area and furious scramble occur in the Croatian goal; Australians claim ball has crossed the goal-line, but referee gives a free kick to Croatia instead.
75th - Tomas again clearly handles the ball in the area but referee ignores Australian pleas for a penalty.
79th - Kewell scores from close range after Bresciano deliver ball into the box and Aloisi flicks towards the Liverpool midfielder. Ball falls nicely for Kewell who puts his powerful shot into the net. Australia 2, Croatia 2.
84th - Dario Simic given red card after tackling Kewell from behind and then arguing with referee.
87th - Emerton red-carded for second yellow card after touching ball with his arm.
One minute injury time - Josip Simunic gets a second yellow card but stays on the field as referee doesn't show a red card.
Three minutes injury time - Simunic receives another yellow card and this time a red.
Match finishes. Australia 2 Croatia 2. Australia progress to last 16 round.
Australia v Croatia starting teams
Australia (4-5-1): 18-Zeljko Kalac; 7-Brett Emerton, 2-Lucas Neill, 3-Craig Moore, 14-Scott Chipperfield; 13-Vince Grella, 5-Jason Culina, 4-Tim Cahill, 21-Mile Sterjovski, 10-Harry Kewell; 9-Mark Viduka Coach: Guus Hiddink
Croatia (4-4-2): 1-Stipe Pletikosa; 7-Dario Simic, 13-Stjepan Tomas, 3-Josip Simunic, 8-Marko Babic; 2-Darijo Srna, 5-Igor Tudor, 10-Niko Kovac, 19-Niko Kranjcar; 18-Ivica Olic, 9-Dado Prso Coach: Zlatko Kranjcar
Referee: Graham Poll (England) Linesmen: Philip Sharp (England), Glenn Turner (England)
I hope I'm wrong,however.
Sadly, I think you're right - but we've never gone this far before. We're pretty chuffed!
Too bad that the games are played in the middle of the night for you guys.In my neck of the woods,they're played in the morning and mid afternoon.
If the Aussies do well,a lot of your fellow countrymen are gonna be sleep deprived,that's for sure.
We're all buggered now!
Kewell!
Best of luck in the next round.
I hope we get a better ref next time. That bloke this morning was a disgrace!
Congrats.
I was jumping up and down and cheering for you guys.
Now, take out Italy!
Cheers.
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