Groups C and D played their final matches today. Denmark-France and Peru-Australia were the Group C matches, and Denmark-France played to the first 0-0 draw this World Cup. Both chances were playing for points, and both will be content with a point, securing their spots with France first and Denmark second. Both teams never challeneged the opposing side and goalkeeper, with shots and headers off target. In the 55th, a free kick by Demark's Christian Eriksen's free kick bounced off keeper Steve Mandanda, only for him to recover before Denmark attackers could pounce. Mandanda nearly gave another scoring chance when he fumbled Eriksen's shot, only to recover in time. Olivier Giroud was France's best attackers with some of his shots forcing Denmark keeper Kasper Schmeichel to make some saves. French sub Nabil Fekir had some chances, a long distance shot stopped, and one chance hitting the side netting.
Since Denmark got a point. the Australia-Peru game became meaningless. Paolo Guerrero sent a long cross to Andre Carrillo, whose first time volley reached the far post, beating Australian keeper Mat Ryan to give Peru the lead in the 18th minute. In the 36th, Australian Mathew Leckie had his close range shot blocked by a wall of Australian players. Guerrero made it more difficult for Australia to tally points when he scored in the 50th. His shot from 8 yards out deflected off Mile Jedinak, beating Ryan to the far right post. Tim Cahill had a close range shot blocked following a corner, and Peru got its first World Cup win in 40 years.
Later, the Group D matches were being played. Croatia, already through, played a desperate Iceland squad. Croatia, only needing a point to guarantee first, beat Iceland 2-1 on a 90th minute strike from Ivan Perisic. In the 40th minute, Alfred Finnbogason had his shot just wide of the near post. Milan Badelj had a strike in the 51st bang the crossbar, only to score two minutes later. His volley in the 53rd beat keeper Hannes por Halldorsson and gave Croatia the lead. Iceland's Sverrir Ingason forced a diving save from keeper Lovre Kalinic, and then Ingason followed that up with a header that hit the crossbar. Iceland would get a PK after a handball from Croatia, and Gylfi Sigurdsson blasted the ensuing kick into the top of the net in the 76th to give Iceland life. But a defensive giveaway in the 90th minute destroyed their hopes, resulting in a Perisic goal and a 2-1 loss.
With Iceland losing, the winner of Nigeria-Argentina would go through, a tie the Super Eagles (aka Nigeria) advance. In the 14th minute, Lionel Messi finally opened his WC 2018 scoring account, after controlling an over-the-top ball from Ever Banega, and his strike beating Nigerian keeper Francis Uzoho to the far post. On a close range free kick just outside the box, Messi's curling shot was saved by Uzoho's fingertips, hitting the post and going out. In the 50th, the Super Eagles leveled it by a PK. Javier Mascherano brought down Leon Balogun, causing the foul and Victor Moses converted the PK to make the score 1-1. Nigeria had chances to seal the game with a potential second goal, but their best chance was a claim at another PK, when Marcus Rojo handled the ball. The call was not there, and Rojo converted his volley from a Gabriel Mercado cross. The result sends Argentina through and Nigeria is now eliminated.
 |
| Rojo (#16), Sergio Aguero (#19), and Argentina were celebrating after Rojo's game-winner |
.
No comments:
Post a Comment