Familiar Foes, Brazil and Chile Meet in 2Nd Round
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Monday 28th June, 2010 15 “In the end we needed strength and we had that strength,” coach Milan Lindsay Balika U-15 All-Island shuttle champs Rajevac said. “Ghana is now among the best eight teams in the world.” Lindsay Balika Vidyalaya, was held at the Welagedara Indoor And the players see no reason they Colombo, won the Under-15 ‘A’ Stadium in Kurunegala. can’t be the best. First they must con- Division Girls’ All Island President’s Balika Vidyalaya, were quer Uruguay in Friday’s quarterfinal Badminton Championship which runners–up. in Johannesburg. “After Uruguay we stand a chance of being in the final,” defender John Pantsil said. “Having Africa’s support adds a bit of pressure on us, but we have to put the pressure outside and go outside and play our normal football.” The signs that Ghana could progress far at the World Cup have been there for some time. Three of the starters in Rustenburg on Saturday also featured last year as Ghana became the first African team to win the Under-20 World Cup, prevailing over runaway favourite Brazil in a penalty shootout. And Ghana was only denied a fifth African title earlier this year by Egypt in a tight final in Angola. “It was important the youth team taking the cup and the whole of Ghana was happy,” Pantsil said. “And since Angola when we were in the final we have shown we are progressing and there is more to come.” The champion Lindsay Balika team Back home they are ready for (Back row from L-R): Chathurika Mallawarachchi, Dianee Lanka (team leader), more celebrations. On Saturday night, Hashanee Jayasinghe, Chinthaka Fernando (Coach), Iresha de Silva (Teacher – dancing fans swarmed onto the streets, in – charge sports): Samandari Rodrigo, Dinali Yashara, Nadini Dilusha. (First while car horns were honked across row from L-R) Methali Abeynayake, Piumi de Alwis, Irushi Perera, Sanduni the nation. Nimesha, Divya Bawanthi and Hiruni de Silva. Abena Serwa, a 34-year-old street (Pic by R. M. W. Bandara, Kurunegala Corr) vendor, said Ghana had beaten “one of United States’ Maurice Edu, centre, is comforted by teammates at the end of the the world’s big powers.” World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Ghana at “The whole continent was looking Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa, Saturday, June 26, 2010. up to them to show that Africa was not Ghana won 2-1, advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals. in the tournament just to keep the (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Netherlands aims to end Ghana maintains Africa’s Slovakian giant killing BY MIKE CORDER Netherlands defender John Heitinga DURBAN, South Africa (AP) - The said. “You don’t just win like that from Netherlands has been more substance Italy.” than style so far at the World Cup and There were signs in the last group Bert van Marwijk’s team is happy to game that the famous Dutch “clock- hopes at World Cup work orange” attacking style of quick stay that way to beat giant killer Slovakia and secure a spot in the quar- exchanges of passing and running off terfinals. the ball is finally starting to click. BY ROB HARRIS also the last African contender. numbers,” said The Netherlands start as strong Robin van Persie’s opening goal in RUSTENBURG, South Africa (AP) - “Me and my colleagues were very Mohammed Abu, a disappointed there were no African favourites but will not be taking his team’s 2-1 defeat of Cameroon was Africa is still at the World Cup party 17-year-old cele- a case in point - the Arsenal striker teams with us,” forward Dede Ayew anything for granted on Monday in after Ghana realized the hopes of a brating in the Durban after Slovakia’s stunning 3- played a one-two with Rafael van der said. “Now we are lucky to be here, we success-starved continent by reaching streets of Ghana’s 2 defeat of Italy in group play Vaart and Dirk Kuyt stepped over the the quarterfinals for the first time on must fight, not just for us, but for the capital, Accra. which sent the defending champion ball to let it run to Van Persie, who Saturday. other teams that are not here. The elation home. gratefully buried his first goal of the The poor showing of African “We feel we have a continent was witnessed Slovakia also boasts one of the tournament in the back of the net. nations had cast a pall over South behind us and the whole of Africa across the conti- tournament’s top scorers in Robert However, Van Marwijk was not sat- Africa 2010, with the hosts and four behind us and that’s given us a lot of nent. Vittek, whose three goals place him isfied. He wants the team to control others exiting at the group stage of the energy to fight more.” Mozambicans cele- at the top of the scoring table with possession and patiently probe for openings in the opponent’s defence. It continent’s first World Cup. And what energy Ghana had. brated in the David Villa of Spain, Argentine Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez of might not please all fans as Dutch “We’ve made everybody proud - Kevin-Prince Boateng tore through the streets of their Uruguay. “total football” does, but it wins match- not Ghana alone, but all of Africa,” American defence to score after just capital, and South “Slovakia did well,” es, Van Marwijk argues. said striker Asamoah Gyan, whose five minutes at the Royal Bafokeng Africa’s governing extra-time goal clinched a 2-1 victory Stadium, while a compact defence African National Congress issued a over the United States in the second thwarted the American resistance. statement calling the Black Stars “our round. While Landon Donovan equalized pride.” The win, which set up a quarterfi- with a second-half penalty, the Black “We are very confident that having nal against Uruguay, took Ghana one Stars shone as the U.S. wilted and gone this far, you are indeed heading stage further than at the team’s World Asamoah Gyan volleyed in the winner for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals on Cup debut four years ago, when it was early in extra time. our soil,” the ANC said. BY TALES AZZONI JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Brazil and Chile won’t have a lot to hide when they play in the second round of the Familiar foes, Brazil and World Cup on Monday. The two South American nations have met dozens of times in recent years and already know what to expect of their opponent in the Chile meet in 2nd round match at Ellis Park Stadium. Brazil has dominated the fought 2-1 loss to European 0. Brazil hasn’t lost to Chile Chile. Brazil also won both rivalry and arrives heavily champion Spain after going a in 10 years, since a 3-0 result qualifiers for the 2010 World favoured to advance, but this man down in the first half. in a 2000 qualifier for the 2002 Cup: 3-0 in Chile in 2008 and 4- time the five-time champions “Chile will respect Brazil, World Cup. It has won the 2 in Brazil last year. will be facing a Chile team but we will play our own past seven, outscoring Chile But despite the eager to show it can get past game,” Chile midfielder 26-3. In 10 matches this unfavourable numbers, the the round of 16 for the first Arturo Vidal said. decade, Brazil won eight, Chileans say they will not time since its home tourna- “We will pressure drew one and lost only the relinquish their attacking ment in 1962. and attack from qualifier in 2000. style on Monday. The Brazilians know bet- all sides.” The “I expect an open ter not to take their oppo- Brazil had no match,” midfielder Jean nents for granted. problem advanc- Beausejour said. “It’s “Now we get to the stage ing likely that we won’t where the 90 minutes change a millimetre from teams will be decisive, what we have been doing, have met mistakes are not regardless of our rival. And allowed or you will twice in World Cups and Brazil with their history and tradi- be going home,” tion, (Brazil) will also try to Brazil coach Dunga said. from Group G, won both - 4-1 in attack.” “Chile has been improving, it finishing first the second round Both teams are likely to has a team with good players after beating of the 1998 World be without some regular and will fight very hard to North Korea 2-1, Cup in France keep advancing.” Ivory Coast 3-1 and and 4-2 in a semi- starters, however, with Chile Led by Argentine coach drawing Portugal 0- final at the 1962 having the most significant Marcelo Bielsa, Chile tournament in losses. moved from Group H after victories against Honduras and Switzerland, fin- ishing second after a hard- Brazil’s soccer players Robinho, front, and Kaka, exercise during a training session, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, June 26, 2010. Brazil will face Chile on June 28 in the round of 16 for the soccer World Cup. (AP Photo/Andre Penner).