Live from Germany
Italy shake off woes, Czechs and Aussies win too
Italian forward Vincenzo Iaquinta jubilates after scoring during the FIFA World Cup 2006 group E football match Italy vs Ghana, 12 June 2006 at Hannover stadium. AFP PHOTO / FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT
Italy and the Czech Republic both scored clear wins over Ghana and the USA respectively in Group E on Monday after Australia had pulled of a last gasp come from behind win over Japan in Group F.
Scandal hit Italy ensured they remain neck-and-neck with the Czech Republic, who had blown the USA away 3-0 in the first Group F tie when they beat African debutantes Ghana 2-0.
AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo broke the deadlock in the 40th minute after Francesco Totti tapped a corner to him outside the area and his blistering shot went home through a crowd.
Pirlo then put substitute striker Vicenzo Iaquinta through for a solo run on goal and he duly rounded the 'keeper to wrap up the points.
But the Africans were hardly daunted and may have got at least a point had they shown anything like the cool in front of goal that Australia's two goal hero Tim Cahill had done earlier in the day.
Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky (L) is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the World Cup 2006 group E football game Czech Republic vs.USA, 12 June 2006 in Gelsenkirchen. AFP PHOTO / KARIM JAAFAR
Czech forward Jan Koller lies on the pitch after being injured during the World Cup 2006 group E football game Czech Republic vs.USA, 12 June 2006 in Gelsenkirchen. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY
Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Rosicky, known as the little Mozart also scored two goals in their rout of the United States in which however they lost striker Jan Koller to injury after he had scored an impressive header earlier on.
The baby-faced Rosicky curled a peach of a shot into the top corner of the USA goal in the 36th minute. And the new Arsenal man broke the USA off-side trap to run on to a through ball from Pavel Nedved in the 76th minute and slotted past oncoming 'keeper Kasey keller to make it 3-0 with a dashing run and shot.
Aussies stay cool in the heat of the action
Australian players celebrate their third goal against Japan in their first round Group F World Cup football match at Kaiserslautern's Fritz-Walter Stadium, 12 June 2006. Australia came from behind to win the match 3-1, including two goals by Australian midfielder Tim Cahill (R). JAPAN OUT AFP PHOTO / SHINYA HAGA
The Australians had a much tougher time in getting their three points in Group F, where Brazil face Croatai Tuesday. Trailing to a dubious early Japan goal Australia came thundering back with three goals in the last five minutes.
The goal rush started in the 84th minute when Everton midfielder Cahill fired through a forest of legs to snatch an equaliser to Japan's 26th minute strike from Shunsuke Nakamura that Egyptian referee Essam Abdullah el Fatah should have disallowed for obstruction of Aussie 'keeper Mark Schwarzer.
With Japan wilting in the sweltering heat Cahill was as cool as the other side of the pillow when he carefully chose his moment to unleash a stinging strike from the edge of the area that went in off the post with 1 minute left on the clock.
But the Aussies still had unfinished business as John Aloisi went on a solo run and slotted home the death blow in time added on for injury.
"In the end justice was done in this game," Australia's Dutch Coach Guus Hiddink said, maintaining that the Japan goal should have been disallowed.
"I think the referee will thank God for the result - it was a clear foul on the goalie."
Japan coach Zico criticised his team for sitting back after going 1-0 up.
"We did not do anything after taking the lead," the Brazilian said.
"We had two clear goalscoring chances on the counter-attack but if you do not put the ball in at one end you sometimes concede it at the other.
Considering that Japan 'keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi made two solid saves from Australia free-kicks the scoreline could have been even heavier despite the frustration and feeling of injustice that hung over the tie after the bad refereeing decision for the first goal.