Decisive Match Chelsea Teammate
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Wednesday 23rd June, 2010 15 Villa scores 2, Serbia, Australia fight to stay in World Cup Spain beats BY MARK WALSH NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) - Australia and Serbia have already experi- enced the highs and lows of this World Cup Honduras 2-0 ahead of their decisive Group D encounter on Wednesday. Australia suffered a red card in each of is good, we have a goal more than Chile in the first half. its opening matches, while Serbia conceded and if we beat Chile we're practically The Liverpool striker, making his penalties in both of its games. group winners, so we're happy," Villa first start since right knee surgery in But on the positive side, Serbia bounced said. "The good thing is that this result April, headed over the bar before send- back from an opening defeat against Ghana means we depend on ourselves." ing a shot high in the 33rd. He then to beat Germany, while Australia's 4-0 Villa single-handedly took the pres- wasted Villa's fine pass from inside the thrashing at the hands of the Germans was sure off Spain - a favorite coming into area at the close of the half. followed by a battling 1-1 draw with ten men the tournament in South Africa - with a Honduras brought striker Georgie against Ghana. superb individual opener that helped Welcome on for Roger Espinoza after After those ups and downs, both sides erase the frustrating 1-0 loss to the restart but were left exposed as Xavi are left in the position of knowing defeat in Switzerland. Hernandez guided the breakout that led Wednesday's match at Nelspruit's Mbombela His fifth World Cup goal put him to Villa's second goal. stadium could equal an early flight home. even with four Spain players as the Spain was guilty of using too many Australia needs to win and also rely on country's leading scorer in the competi- touches as it blew great buildups on goal a favorable result in the simultaneous tion and moved him within four goals of either side of Villa's penalty miss, and Ghana-Germany game to reach the round of Raul Gonzalez's record of 44 for the David Suazo finally got a shot off for 16. If Australia and Ghana both win, national team. Honduras in the 65th. Australia is through. If Germany wins, "It's a shame," Villa said. "I could Cesc Fabregas came on for Xavi in Australia must beat Serbia and hope its goal have passed (the other four players) the 66th and rounded Valladares with difference is boosted and Ghana's reduced with a penalty but I'm still happy with his first touch only for Chavez to clear it by a sum of five goals. A Germany-Ghana this result." off the goal line. Fabregas, who didn't draw would leave Australia having to win Spain's David Villa goes to score the second goal during the World Cup group The win improved Spain's chances play against the Swiss, was a constant by seven goals. H soccer match between Spain and Honduras at Ellis Park Stadium in of avoiding a potential matchup with threat as Spain peppered its opponent's For Serbia, a win guarantees progres- Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, June 21, 2010. (AP) Brazil in the round of 16. goal to the end, with Ramos coming sion, while a draw would also do the job pro- Spain attacked from the start and close in the 67th. vided Ghana wins. Jesus Navas was tripped up inside the created a handful of early chances, Not much separates the two sides BY PAUL LOGOTHETIS right side of the area. including a long-range shot from Villa Lineups: according to FIFA's rankings; Serbia is in JOHANNESBURG (AP) - David Villa Spain has three points and can still that beat the outstretched Valladares Spain: Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos 15th spot, with the Australians five places scored two goals Monday to put Spain's win Group H with a victory over Chile, but hit the crossbar in the seventh. (Alvaro Arbeloa, 77), Carles Puyol, further back. World Cup back on track with a 2-0 vic- which earlier beat Switzerland 1-0 and Ramos, whose ninth-minute penalty Gerard Pique, Joan Capdevila, Jesus Australia's preparation has been ham- tory over Honduras. leads with six points. Switzerland has appeal was waived away,headed Joan Navas, Sergio Busquets, Xavi (Cesc pered by suspensions to two key players. Villa beat three defenders in the three points and Honduras has zero. Capdevila's cross over at the far post in Fabregas, 66), Xabi Alonso, Fernando Forward Harry Kewell will miss out after 17th minute at Ellis Park and Honduras "The result the 11th. Torres (Juan Manuel Mata, 70), David his red card against Ghana and experienced goalkeeper Noel Valladares got a touch Spain's defense provided goalkeeper Villa. defender Craig Moore is sidelined after on the rising shot but couldn't keep it Iker Casillas with some nervous Honduras: Noel Valladares, Sergio picking up two yellow cards. out. Villa scored his 40th goal in the 51st moments soon after as the captain Mendoza, Osman Chavez, Maynor "They still have good players in the when his shot from the edge of the area rushed to catch a high ball before block- Figueroa, Emillio Izaguirre, Wilson reserves, but these two are big players for deflected off a defender and went over ing Amado Guevara's shot just before Palacios, Amado Guevara, Danilio them," Serbia captain Dejan Stankovic said. Valladares. Villa's goal. Turcios (Ramon Nunez, 63), Walter "We will try to use that to our advantage." The Spain striker had a chance for a Navas' speed kept Honduras off-kil- Martinez, Roger Espinoza (Georgie The brighter news for Australia is that hat trick but he missed a penalty in the ter, while Fernando Torres - uncharac- Welcome, 46), David Suazo (Jerry attacking midfielder Tim Cahill is available 62nd. Spain earned the penalty when teristically - missed three clear chances Palacios, 84). after serving a one-match ban for his red card against the Germans. Cahill averages a goal every second BY NESHA STARCEVIC game for the Socceroos and his ability to JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Ghana arrive late in the box from midfield is already has one milestone behind it among the national team's principal and now it stands a victory away from weapons. achieving maybe an even bigger one - Australia coach Pim Verbeek was pillo- sending Germany to its earliest exit ried for playing Cahill up front against the from a World Cup. Germans - an experiment that probably Ghana became the first African won't be repeated, with tall striker Josh team to win a World Cup game on Kennedy likely to start. African soil when it beat Serbia 1-0 in "This week I have kept myself really its Group D opener. Now it can ensure fresh and sharp and made sure that the that Germany exits at the group stage management can see that I'm edging to still for the first time ever. be in selection and make sure that I try and Going into the decisive final round, start," Cahill said Ghana leads the group on four points, At the back, Moore's likely replacement Germany and Serbia have three and is Michael Beauchamp, who stands 1.91 Australia is on one, meaning all four meters (6 feet 3 inches) tall and could be a have a chance of progressing and all useful attribute to counter Serbia's 2.02m (6 are at risk of missing out. feet, 7- 1/2 inch) Nikola Zigic. A win over Ghana would see Despite the collapse against Germany, Germany through, and a draw would be Australian sports stars have a reputation enough for the Germans if Serbia fails for relishing competition. to beat Australia. "They are a very competitive, honest Both sides will be eager to improve football team," Inter Milan midfielder on their previous performances: Stankovic said. "They are fighters and they Germany suffered a surprise 1-0 loss to showed that by holding Ghana with 10 men. Serbia, while Ghana failed to capitalize We expect them to come out fighting. on an early red card to the Australians "They have a good collectiveness. We and was held to a 1-1 draw. German skipper Philipp Lahm, left, runs away from Germany's Piotr Trochowski, center, and Germany's Mario respect their quality, but we will do our best The Germans remained optimistic Gomez, right, as they play rugby during a team training session of the German national soccer team at the Super to beat them." despite an unconvincing display stadium in Atteridgeville near Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, June 21, 2010. Germany is playing in Group D of the Serbia can count on players from some against Serbia. Coach Joachim Loew soccer World Cup. of Europe's top clubs. Nemanja Vidic is a and captain Philipp Lahm have both (AP Photo/Gero Breloer) regular in the center of Manchester said Germany will advance "100 per- United's defense, while Branislav Ivanovic cent." hamstring injury ruled him out of the impressed with Chelsea in the season past. "We know our qualities and have Germany and Ghana in match against Australia. Mensah's Inter Milan midfielder Stankovic is no doubt that we'll make it," striker usual central defensive partner, Isaac fresh from victory in the UEFA Champions' Cacau said Monday. Vorsah, remains in doubt. League and also carries the distinction of The Brazil-born Cacau is likely to Like Germany, Ghana is at the playing in his third World Cup - each time start up front, as Miroslav Klose is sus- World Cup without its injured regular for a different nation.