Australia won through to the knock out stages of the World Cup for the first time with a late late show from Harry Kewell. The game in Stuttgart was not only memorable because of the drama with which the Socceroos came back into the game but also because English referee Graham Poll booked Croatia’s Simunic three times before sending him off and also sent off Emerton and Simic during a fiery encounter.
With both sides holding an outside chance of qualification before the start, the game was always going to be a battle but few could have hazarded a guess that the game would linger in the memory for so long. After a win against Japan and defeat to Brazil Australia knew that a point would probably be enough to send them through, but a win would definitely ensure their status.
Croatia who struggled to a 0-0 draw with Japan could take heart from their first game in which Brazil only just nudged past them 1-0 however they knew that it was going to be a difficult task if they wanted to make it through to the second stage.
The games first real action was however a Croatian goal, a wonderful free kick from Darijo Srna game the European’s a wonderful start to the game curling the ball past Kalac into the top corner. It was just the start the game needed to open it up however it also led to periods of scrappy play in the first half as needless free kicks begun to be given away by both sides and yellow cards started to be flashed in all directions.
It took fully half an hour for the game to settle back into its rhythm and it was Australia through Culina who nearly leveled up the game at 1-1. Cutting inside his midfield marker Culina was able to smash the mall towards goal with his right foot, but his strike was just too high and Croatia’s lead was still in tact.
Three minutes later though Australia found their way back into the game after a penalty was given away for handball against Tomas. This gave Newcastle’s Craig Moore the opportunity to slot the resulting penalty home and give Australia a great chance of achieving the result they needed just before half time.
The goal was a great boost to the Aussies and with their confidence high they began to take control of the game with Cahill and Culina seemingly winning every tackle in the midfield it seemed just a matter of time before they would go ahead, but it was Croatia who had the best chance of the first half during the remaining seconds of the period as Prso fired over the cross bar from twelve yards after being slotted through on a tight angle. The Rangers front man was unlucky not to hit the net and after being ahead to early Croatia were gutted not to be going ahead into the break.
The second half started almost as explosively as the first and it was Croatia who once against struck first in their bid to make round two. A shot from the edge of the area from Kovac slipped through the grasp of Kalic’s hands and into the back of the net for a Croat lead. The coach and his staff celebrated wildly as news filtered through that Brazil were winning and with four points they would be the team to qualify in second place.
Australia now began attacking the Croatians with great variation, Viduka was also a handful from aerial situations and with the introduction of Kewell it seemed that Australia finally had the pace they were look for to break down the tough Croatian defense.
The ‘‘Boro front man was unlucky on two occasions within five minutes of each other as the game slipped away from Australia. First his header skipped just over the ball and then after good work by himself he laid off Harry Kewell’s whose powerful drive was some how tipped over the bar by Pletikosa.
Moments later the Croatian keeper was the hero again after he bravely threw himself underneath two Australian players to grab the ball when he looked third favourite at best.
He was however helpless as Australia made their way back into the game just before the final whistle, Kewell who had worked had since coming on, got the reward his teams play had deserved as he controlled the ball and finished with his right foot after a ball was swung in from the right.
The Liverpool man looked off side as he flashed the ball into the net giving Australia the point they needed to qualify but the goal was given much to the protest of the Croatians.
The drama didn't stop there however as both Emerton and Simic were dismissed for second bookable offenses in the final ten minutes before Tim Cahill scored a disallowed goal for Australia after the final whistle had blown and after three yellow yards Simunic was correctly dismissed after picking up his third for complaining about the Kewell goal.
With both sides holding an outside chance of qualification before the start, the game was always going to be a battle but few could have hazarded a guess that the game would linger in the memory for so long. After a win against Japan and defeat to Brazil Australia knew that a point would probably be enough to send them through, but a win would definitely ensure their status.
Croatia who struggled to a 0-0 draw with Japan could take heart from their first game in which Brazil only just nudged past them 1-0 however they knew that it was going to be a difficult task if they wanted to make it through to the second stage.
The games first real action was however a Croatian goal, a wonderful free kick from Darijo Srna game the European’s a wonderful start to the game curling the ball past Kalac into the top corner. It was just the start the game needed to open it up however it also led to periods of scrappy play in the first half as needless free kicks begun to be given away by both sides and yellow cards started to be flashed in all directions.
It took fully half an hour for the game to settle back into its rhythm and it was Australia through Culina who nearly leveled up the game at 1-1. Cutting inside his midfield marker Culina was able to smash the mall towards goal with his right foot, but his strike was just too high and Croatia’s lead was still in tact.
Three minutes later though Australia found their way back into the game after a penalty was given away for handball against Tomas. This gave Newcastle’s Craig Moore the opportunity to slot the resulting penalty home and give Australia a great chance of achieving the result they needed just before half time.
The goal was a great boost to the Aussies and with their confidence high they began to take control of the game with Cahill and Culina seemingly winning every tackle in the midfield it seemed just a matter of time before they would go ahead, but it was Croatia who had the best chance of the first half during the remaining seconds of the period as Prso fired over the cross bar from twelve yards after being slotted through on a tight angle. The Rangers front man was unlucky not to hit the net and after being ahead to early Croatia were gutted not to be going ahead into the break.
The second half started almost as explosively as the first and it was Croatia who once against struck first in their bid to make round two. A shot from the edge of the area from Kovac slipped through the grasp of Kalic’s hands and into the back of the net for a Croat lead. The coach and his staff celebrated wildly as news filtered through that Brazil were winning and with four points they would be the team to qualify in second place.
Australia now began attacking the Croatians with great variation, Viduka was also a handful from aerial situations and with the introduction of Kewell it seemed that Australia finally had the pace they were look for to break down the tough Croatian defense.
The ‘‘Boro front man was unlucky on two occasions within five minutes of each other as the game slipped away from Australia. First his header skipped just over the ball and then after good work by himself he laid off Harry Kewell’s whose powerful drive was some how tipped over the bar by Pletikosa.
Moments later the Croatian keeper was the hero again after he bravely threw himself underneath two Australian players to grab the ball when he looked third favourite at best.
He was however helpless as Australia made their way back into the game just before the final whistle, Kewell who had worked had since coming on, got the reward his teams play had deserved as he controlled the ball and finished with his right foot after a ball was swung in from the right.
The Liverpool man looked off side as he flashed the ball into the net giving Australia the point they needed to qualify but the goal was given much to the protest of the Croatians.
The drama didn't stop there however as both Emerton and Simic were dismissed for second bookable offenses in the final ten minutes before Tim Cahill scored a disallowed goal for Australia after the final whistle had blown and after three yellow yards Simunic was correctly dismissed after picking up his third for complaining about the Kewell goal.