Italy Is True to Form in Beating Ghana, 2-0
Italy responded to the corruption scandal back home with some of the most exciting soccer of this World Cup.
Andrea Pirlo converted a set play to perfection for Italy’s first goal in the 40th minute, and Vincenzo Iaquinta finished off a 2-0 win over Ghana in the 83rd minute in Hanover, Germany.
Italy had 13 shots on goal to Ghana’s four and hit the crossbar and goalpost once each.
“It was the best soccer of the tournament so far,” said FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who attended Monday’s game.
Last week, Blatter issued an ultimatum to Italian authorities, telling them to decide on punishments for the scandal by the end of next month. Prosecutors in four Italian cities are investigating allegations of match-fixing, referee arrangements and illegal betting.
Italian playmaker Francesco Totti left the game after taking a hit on his surgically repaired left leg in the second half. His status for Saturday’s game against the U.S. is uncertain.
Still, Italy stretched its unbeaten streak to 19 games and moved into a tie with the Czech Republic atop Group E. Italy has not lost since falling to Slovenia in October 2004, with 11 wins and eight draws since then.
Ghana missed a number of chances, but showed itself worthy of playing among soccer’s elite.
*
Australia 3, Japan 1 -- The wait for a World Cup goal, and a win, is over for Australia.
The goals came in a late flurry in the Aussies’ stunning rally in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Tim Cahill scored in the 84th minute and again five minutes later. John Aloisi added one in injury time.
Cahill, who came on in the 53rd minute, made an impressive showing for a player coming off a knee injury who has had limited playing time heading to the tournament.
“It’s been one big massive procedure for me to get fit in such a short period of time,” he said. “To do what we did today shows Australian spirit, and it’s good to be up there with the rugby and cricket players.”
The Australians didn’t appear capable of tying the score after falling behind in the first half.
But Cahill picked up a loose ball off a throw-in and beat Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi with a right-footed shot. Kawaguchi erred in coming out of his net.
Five minutes later, with the Japanese off-balance, Cahill scored from 20 yards with a right-footed shot that went in off the post.
Australia’s Aloisi found the net in the final seconds from 15 yards after snaking through the defense.
That finished off the comeback for his nation’s first World Cup win.
Australia’s only other trip was in 1974, when it failed to score a goal in losing to host West Germany and East Germany and drawing with Chile, 0-0.
