|
German Beats U.S. in World Cup Play
 |
|
German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn stops a shot from USA's Landon
Donovan
|
ULSAN,
South Korea, June 21 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Michael
Ballack scored the only goal as
Germany
beat
United States
1-0 here Friday, but the three-time champions must thank goalkeeper
and captain Oliver Kahn for their first appearance at the World Cup
semi-finals in 12 years.
Kahn
made a series of spectacular saves in a superb goalkeeping show as the
American upstarts showed they would not go down without a fight in the
tense and fiercely fought quarterfinal.
On
Kahn’s play, German coach Rudi Voeller said, "Oliver Kahn,
there is no doubt about it, saved us many times in the first
half…He's proved once again he is a world-class keeper.”
Bayer
Leverkusen midfielder Ballack rose powerfully to head a 39th-minute
Christian Ziege free kick from the right past U.S. goalkeeper Brad
Friedel.
That
secured a place in the last four against
South Korea
or
Spain
in
Seoul
next Tuesday.
Germany
last reached the semi-finals in 1990 when they went on to win the
tournament.
Match-winner
Ballack said: "We put the pressure on, but we had problems
finding space.
"We
knew dead-ball situations were our strength. It was a tough bit of
work, but things worked out and we are happy to be in the semis."
It
was Ballack's second goal of the tournament and one that gave
Germany
a brief period of domination. Four minutes later Miroslav Klose, the
tournament's joint leading scorer with five goals, headed another
attempt onto the
U.S.
goalpost.
Until
Ballack's strike, the
United States
seemed in charge with Kahn under continual pressure.
Landon
Donovan had the first real chance in the 18th minute, beating Ziege
and then firing a left foot shot that forced a desperate save from
Kahn to put the ball around the post.
After
30 minutes Donovan was put clear again on the left wing and Kahn again
had to parry his narrow angle shot wide of the post.
Germany
was also dangerous on the counter-attack and Oliver Neuville's
overhead kick in the 34th minute went straight into the face of U.S.
midfielder Eddie Lewis, who probably stopped a German goal.
Within
seconds Donovan found Lewis clear on the edge of the German penalty
area and Kahn could only fist away Lewis' shot.
The
United States had Lewis and Eddie Pope booked late in the half by
Scottish referee Hugh Dallas as they conceded a growing number of
fouls.
But
the American team, in the quarterfinals for the first time since the
inaugural World Cup in 1930, pressed for an equalizer as soon as the
second half started.
There
was immediate controversy as Kahn made another spectacular save from
an O'Brien five meter shot. The ball came off the goalpost and Torsten
Frings' arm stopped it going over the line.
Dallas
refused U.S. demands for a goal and did not give a penalty either.
Kahn
was nearly caught out in the 60th minute. He ran out of the penalty
area to clear the ball and U.S. skipper Claudio Reyna lobbed the ball
from near the halfway line, narrowly missing the German goal.
As
tensions mounted and shirts were pulled, Dallas booked Germany's
Sebastien Kehl and Neuville and Americans Reyna, Pablo Mastroeni and
Gregg Berhalter in less than five minutes.
Germany
defended furiously for the last 15 minutes. Tony Sanneh headed
narrowly wide in the dying seconds but Germany held on to extend their
unbeaten record at the finals.
"I
was really proud of our team, we were a little unlucky," said
U.S. coach Bruce Arena. "Kahn was probably the difference.
"We
had a lot of chances, the Germans had two and they converted one.
"We
showed the world we can play," he said. "We haven't arrived,
but there's a bright future for the game in the United States."
"We
have had a great ride," U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel added.
"The satisfying thing is we can go home knowing we could have
gone a little further. We never once got played off the park here, and
we can go home with our heads held high."
|
