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Colombia goalkeeper mondragon becomes oldest player at world cup BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Colombia goalkeeper mondragon becomes oldest player at world cup

Posted: 24 Jun 2014 08:55 PM PDT

Posted on June 25, 2014, Wednesday

CUIABA (Brazil): Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon was the oldest player at a World Cup when he came on as a late substitute in the 4-1 win over Japan on Tuesday, reports China's Xinhua news agency.

Mondragon broke the record held by Cameroon striker Roger Milla, who was 42 when he played in the 1994 finals in the United States.

Mondragon entered in the 85th minute when his team was 3-1 ahead.

Colombia marched into the round of 16 knockout stage after three wins from as many Group C matches. — BERNAMA

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World Cup: Suarez bite storm as Uruguay sink Italy

Posted: 24 Jun 2014 06:09 PM PDT

LUIS SUAREZ shocked the World Cup with a new biting storm Tuesday as Uruguay sensationally dumped ten-man Italy out of the tournament with a dramatic 1-0 victory on Tuesday.

Uruguay captain Diego Godin rose high to thump home an 81st-minute header to settle a gritty Group D battle in Natal. The victory saw Italy knocked out in the first round for the second straight World Cup.

But Italy's stunning exit was overshadowed by an incredible incident involving Suarez — already banned twice before for biting opponents — just moments before Godin's winner.

Television replays showed Suarez appearing to attempt to sink his teeth into Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder in an off-the-ball incident.

Chiellini leapt to his feet to remonstrate with Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez, pulling his shirt off his shoulder to show the red marks.

Afterwards a disgusted Chiellini told Italian television: "He bit me, it's clear, I still have the mark."

"The referee should have blown his whistle and given him a red card, also because he was simulating," added the Juventus player.

Close-up images of the incident appeared to show a red bite mark on Chiellini's neck.

Uruguay's veteran manager Oscar Tabarez pleaded ignorance of the incident.

"I didn't see it. I'd like to see the images first," he told a press conference.

Tabarez also suggested Suarez was being victimised by journalists.

"He is the preferred target for a lot of media," Tabarez said.

Pressed on the issue, a visibly irritated Tabarez again refused to condemn Suarez.

"This is a football World Cup, it's not about cheap morality."

FIFA said it would study the referee's report and the match video.

"We are awaiting the official match reports and will gather all the necessary elements in order to evaluate the matter," FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer told AFP.

If found guilty by FIFA disciplinary chiefs, the incident would almost certainly mean the end of the tournament for Suarez, painted as a villain at the 2010 World Cup for his deliberate goal-line handball which denied Ghana a famous quarter-final victory. -AFP

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World Cup: Late penalty drama as Greece oust Ivory Coast

Posted: 24 Jun 2014 03:35 PM PDT

FORTALEZA: Georgios Samaras's dramatic injury-time penalty took Greece into the World Cup last 16 for the first time as they grabbed a 2-1 win which sent Ivory Coast crashing out.

Samaras, brought down by Giovanni Sio in the 91st minute, bravely stepped up to convert past a flailing Boubacar Barry before being mobbed by his team-mates.

It proved the last act of a thrilling Group C finale which Greece had led following Andreas Samaris's strike near half-time, before Wilfried Bony equalised.

The Swansea City striker's goal looked enough to take Ivory Coast through but Samaras's penalty lifted Greece from bottom place to second, thanks also to Colombia's 4-1 win over Japan.

Samaras's goal brought a cruel end to the tournament for Ivory Coast's Yaya and Kolo Toure, who were playing despite the death of their brother from cancer last week.

The result also convinced Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi that his adventure with the 'Elephants' was at an end.

"My contract comes to an end at this World Cup and there will be no epilogue and you can understand well as to why," said the 42-year-old Frenchman.

"It is logical as we did not do well at last year's Africa Cup of Nations or at the World Cup finals."

Veteran striker Didier Drogba took over captaincy duties from Yaya Toure as he made his first start of the World Cup.

And they combined for the Ivory Coast's first dangerous moment but the Manchester City man's pass into the box was too heavy for the 36-year-old Galatasary striker's ageing legs to run on to.

Greece were forced into early changes when goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis came off with a back problem and midfielder Samaris replaced Panagiotis Kone, who went down holding his hamstring.

Ivory Coast were having trouble breaking down the compact Greeks and the Euro 2004 champions fired a warning when they quickly broke forward and Jose Holebas rattled the crossbar.

Georgios Karagounis, making his 139th apperance for the Greeks, then profited from indifferent defending when he blasted a low free-kick past the Ivory Coast wall but straight at Copa.

Greece's opener, three minutes before half-time, stemmed from a mix-up when Samaras pounced on a loose pass by Cheick Tiote and fed Samaris who steadied himself and finished coolly.

Samaris was then on hand at the other end to deny Yaya Toure after he evaded two challenges and galloped into the Greek box, only to see his shot blocked by the midfielder.

Lazaros Christodoulopoulos had a shot deflected off-target early in the second half and Tiote then thumped one at replacement Greek goalkeeper Panagiotis Glyko.

A retreating Ivorian defence invited Christodoulopoulos to shoot once again but his shot from the edge of the area missed to the left.

The Greek defending was far more adroit and Konstantinos Manoloas slid in sharply to deny Salomon Kalou as he prepared to shoot.

Barry had to get everything behind a fierce drive from Dimitrios Salpingidis as Greece continued to threaten.

And another Greek break had the Ivorians in trouble, forcing Kalou into a last-ditch foul on Vasileios Torosidis at the expense of a yellow card.

Karagounis was inches from one of the goals of the tournament when his sensational long-range shot smashed off the crossbar, leaving the Fulham midfielder shaking his head.

With 16 minutes left, a Greek victory looked a formality but Bony, who came on for Tiote just after the hour-mark, had other ideas.

The Swansea City striker received a cute sideways pass in the box from Gervinho and he made no mistake with his first-time finish past Glyko.

The Greeks were going out and with time running short, Vasileios Torosidis tried his luck with a speculative shot from a tight angle which slammed off the near post.

Salpingidis's cross ran across the face of goal as Greece pressed. And they finally got their reward when Sio, brought on just minutes earlier for Gervinho, upended Samaras. – AFP

World Cup: Japan sent packing by revamped Colombia

Posted: 24 Jun 2014 03:30 PM PDT

CUIABA: Jackson Martinez scored twice as Colombia beat Japan 4-1 to end their World Cup Group C campaign with a perfect three wins and boot the Asian champions out of the tournament.

The match made World Cup history when Farid Mondragan beat Roger Milla's record as the oldest player at any finals tournament. The goalkeeper came on as a substitute for the last six minutes at the age of 43 years and three days.

Martinez's two second-half goals broke Japanese hearts after the Blue Samurai had equalised on the stroke of half-time to keep their hopes alive in Cuiaba.

Colombian fans decked out in yellow turned the stadium into a home fixture, hugely outnumbering their Japanese counterparts as coach Jose Pekerman made eight changes to his starting line-up.

The new-look team started brightly but once Japan settled they enjoyed the lion's share of the possession, with Shinji Kagawa — restored to the starting XI — and Keisuke Honda probing for an opening.

Colombia took the lead against the run of play when Adrian Ramos was upended by Yasuyuki Konna as he burst into the penalty area, earning the defender a booking.

Juan Cuadrado converted from the spot in the 17th minute to put Colombia 1-0 in front.

Japan, criticised for their toothless display against Greece in their previous match, pressed for an equaliser. Kagawa forced a smart save from David Ospina and Honda went close from a free-kick.

Their efforts were eventually rewarded when Shinji Okazaki scored with an impressive diving header from Honda's teasing left-footed cross.

But Japan knew despite their efforts they were still dependent on the other match in Group C, in which Greece were playing Ivory Coast.

Pekerman brought on Carlos Carbonero and James Rodriguez to replace Cuadrado and Juan Quintero at the start of the second half.

Monaco forward Rodriguez, who has shone in Brazil in the absence of his club team-mate Radamel Falcao, immediately looked dangerous and after 10 minutes helped Martinez fire Colombia in front.

As the game became stretched, Kagawa and Honda tried their luck from distance and Yoshito Okubo blazed over from close range.

News filtered through that Ivory Coast had equalised against Greece, making Japan's task even harder but still they pressed for their own breakthrough, with Zaccheroni making changes in the search for a goal.

But with just eight minutes to go of normal time Martinez kept his composure in the box after a rapid break, firing past Eiji Kawashima for his second goal.

To roars from the Colombian fans Pekerman brought on veteran goalkeeper Mondragon, who last appeared at the finals 16 years ago.

He surpassed Cameroon's Milla, who played at 42 years and 39 days, but Mondragon is now set to hang up his gloves.

His night was spoiled when Rodriguez burst into the box with seconds to go, producing a deft left-footed chip over the goalkeeper to seal an emphatic win.

Colombia, ranked eighth by FIFA, are making their first appearance in the World Cup finals since 1998. Their last-16 showing in Italy in 1990 was the only other time they have made it out of the group stage. – AFP

World Cup: Uruguay beat Italy 1-0 to reach last 16

Posted: 24 Jun 2014 12:08 PM PDT

NATAL: Luis Suarez soured Uruguay's World Cup joy by creating another biting storm as the South Americans eliminated Italy from the World Cup on Tuesday.

Skipper Diego Godin scored the only goal in Natal to give Uruguay a 1-0 win that put them into the World Cup second round behind Group D winners Costa Rica. Italy went out and coach Cesare Prandelli immediately quit.

But Suarez stole the headlines again after Italian centre-back Giorgio Chiellini accused Suarez of sinking his teeth into his shoulder.

"He bit me it's clear I still have the mark," Chiellini told Italian television.

"The referee should have blown his whistle and given him a red card, also because he was simulating," added the Juventus player.

Television replays showed Suarez — who has twice been sanctioned for biting players — appearing to sink his teeth into Chiellini's shoulder in an off-the-ball incident.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez played down the incident and got angry with the media when pressed on the issue.

"I'd like to see the images first before making any comment. If it happened, then the referee probably didn't see it," said Tabarez.

"Despite mistakes he (Suarez) has made, he is the target of certain media, a certain press.

"It seems to me there's a certain animosity towards him."

Italy finished the game with 10 men after Claudio Marchisio was shown a straight red card for dragging his studs down Egidio Arevalo's shin.

It was the second World Cup in a row the Azzurri, winner sin 2006, crashed out in the group stages. Prandelli reacted to the defeat by announcing his resignation.

"It's sad," said goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon. "We've failed and obviously there's huge dissatisfaction."

Italy required only a draw against Uruguay at Estadio das Dunas in Natal to go through this time but defeat proved fatal as Costa Rica got the point they needed to ensure top spot in Group D with a 0-0 draw against England.

Prior to the game, strikers Suarez and Edinson Cavani were described by Prandelli as one of the most potent strike duos at the World Cup, but they were kept on a tight rein during a nervous first half.

Italy suffered a blow when Mario Balotelli was cautioned for a high tackle on Alvaro Pereira, who had also been knocked briefly unconscious against England.

Balotelli's yellow card means he will miss Italy's next match, although that will now be after the World Cup.

Paris Saint Germain midfielder Marco Verratti was Italy's star performer.

On the half hour he dispossessed Cavani to launch Balotelli but the striker failed to release as Immobile ran through into an offside position.

Minutes later Andrea Pirlo's smart short pass found Matteo De Sciglio on the left but the wingback's pinpoint delivery to the unmarked Immobile was volleyed off target.

Italy were composed, but minutes before half-time Buffon had to make two critical saves to keep the scoresheet clean, first stopping Suarez's snap-shot down low with his left arm and then denying Nicolas Lodeiro from the follow-up.

Prandelli replaced Balotelli with midfielder Marco Parolo at half-time, a tactical switch that suggested the Azzurri would happily hold on for the scoreless draw.

On 58 minutes Cristian Rodriguez sent a great chance wide of the target after a smart one-two with Suarez on the left flank.

Moments later, Marchisio was given his marching orders for his challenge on Arevalo.

The decision had the expected impact, and after Suarez burst through confidently on 65 minutes Buffon had to get down low to block with his arm.

Italy were still finding space, though, and a Pirlo through ball found Immobile only for the striker to be charged down as he was about to pull the trigger.

Prandelli replaced Immobile with Antonio Cassano, but despite Italy again finding opportunities on the counter, Uruguay's insistence deep in Italian territory finally paid off.

The hosts gave away a corner, which Godin met with conviction to leave Buffon with no chance nine minutes from time.

Italy rallied in desperation in the dying minutes, when Buffon ran up the field to leave his net empty, but to no avail. – AFP

World Cup: Drab draw leaves Costa Rica top, England last

Posted: 24 Jun 2014 12:02 PM PDT

BELO HORIZONTE: Costa Rica drew 0-0 with England to top World Cup Group D unbeaten and leave their opponents winless and bottom of the table on Tuesday in Belo Horizonte.

Costa Rica, who only made the last 16 on one other occasion in 1990, defied the tag of minnows and outsiders in the group to beat both Uruguay and Italy. Uruguay seized second spot with a 1-0 win against 10-man Italy in Natal.

Sixty-four years on from their humiliating 1-0 loss to the United States in the city, a youthful and much-changed England side were unable to restore pride after their earliest World Cup exit since 1958.

Manager Roy Hodgson made nine changes to his starting XI, notably handing first competitive starts to 18-year-old Luke Shaw and 20-year-old Ross Barkley, but his side laboured in the Estadio Mineirao sunshine.

Further emphasising the mood of change, Frank Lampard captained the team and Steven Gerrard came on for what are likely to have been their final international appearances. But the day belonged to Costa Rica.

Jorge Luis Pinto's side had already qualified thanks to shock wins over Uruguay and Italy and can now look forward to a likely last-16 encounter with the Ivory Coast, whose group concludes later on Tuesday.

With Prince Harry, fourth in line to the British throne, watching from the stands, England's would-be footballing heirs looked to make an aggressive start, but it was Costa Rica who threatened first.

Arsenal forward Joel Campbell's 20-yard dig took a deflection off Gary Cahill that sent it fractionally wide of the right-hand post, but no corner was awarded.

Some of the Costa Ricans' interchanges conveyed the exuberance of a team riding the crest of a wave, but England began to make inroads, with Daniel Sturridge curling narrowly wide and thrashing a long-ranger off-target.

Celso Borges then came within inches of putting Costa Rica ahead, only for England goalkeeper Ben Foster — making a first competitive start since 2009 — to brilliantly touch his 25-yard free-kick onto the bar.

England finished the first half brightly, Sturridge heading over and Barkley blasting wide, but there was little tempo to the game.

The torpor persisting in the second period and England's technical deficiencies continuing to dog them, with Sturridge's poor first touch after a Shaw shot had ricocheted into his path allowing Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas to make a brave save.

When England belatedly produced a moment of quality, Sturridge initiating a smart one-two with Jack Wilshere, the Liverpool striker could only bend the ball wide from 10 yards.

Hodgson sent on Raheem Sterling, Gerrard and Wayne Rooney as the game drifted towards its conclusion.

Rooney saw a characteristic chip touched over the bar by Navas, but there was to be no late salvo from England, whose frustrated fans had to be subdued by riot police as the final whistle neared. – AFP