Goals galore

Spain 4 Ukraine 0

Photo: Goals galore

Goals galore

Ukraine has a lot of work to do if it wants to qualify ahead of Saudi Arabia and Tunisia and pass on to the second round of the 18^th World Cup finals in Germany, after being thrashed 4-0.

Xabi Alonso and David Villa scored after 13’ and 17’ and at the beginning of the second half, Vladyslav Vashchuk was sent off for a foul on Fernando Torres, which gave rise to a penalty converted by Villa (3-0). Torres scored the fourth after 81’.

Spain’s nine opportunities on goal compared tio the Ukraine’s five says it all. Yet again, a first-timer in the competition loses the first game.

Tunisia 2 Saudi Arábia 2

Jaziri Zied on 23’ (Tunisia), Yasser Al Khatan on 57’ (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA), Sami Al Jaber on 84’ (KSA), Rahdi Jaidi on 92’ (Tunisia), the four goalscorers in this interesting match.

The statistics give a slight advantage to KSA: 18 shots against 8; 4 corners against 3; 4 free kicks against 0; ball possession 51% against 49%.

However, it was a great game of football with two teams unafraid to have a go and brimming with ideas. Either one of them has a chance to go through to the second round.

Next games in Group H

19th: Ukraine vs Saudi Arabia and Spain vs Tunisia; 23rd: Spain vs Saudi Arabia and Ukraine vs Tunisia

Germany 1 Poland 0

Classification: Germany 2 games 6 points; Equador 1 game 3 points; Costa Rica 1 game 0 points; Poland 2 games 0 points

If Equador wins tomorrow, Poland is eliminated, together with Costa Rica.

Today’s game was fascinating and the result could have been a victory for Poland, yet Germany was the team than won in the end with a great side-footed shot by Oliver Neuville on 91’ after the Polish keeper, Artur Boruc, had kept his side in the game with some inspired keeping. The Poles also had their chances but the red card suffered by Radaslow Sobolewski after 75’ did not help their cause.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY

PRAVDA.Ru