The first bout of matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup are almost done and dusted, with Tuesday in South Africa providing some more surprises which keeps the tournament open to takers.
Kicking off yesterday’s action in the host nation, tournament underdogs New Zealand took on Slovakia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
Many were backing the Kiwi’s to end their tournament with no goals to their name, let alone points, but with a dogged performance from the All Whites – they snatched a point from the Slovakians.
The Europeans’ Robert Vittek struck the back of the net in the 50th minute – a lead they certainly deserved and so they pushed for another, unlucky not to make it 2-0 soon after.
But in the final minute of extra time, Shane Smeltz put in a fantastic cross which Winston Reid took full advantage of and headed the ball past Jan Mucha.
The result leaves all sides in Group F level on points and goal difference, as Paraguay and Italy drew on Monday night.
Match 13 hit the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, and saw the first match of Group G get underway as Côte d’Ivoire took on Portugal.
With the group considered one of the hardest to qualify from, Portugal and the Ivory Coast have proved themselves as the contenders for the second side to make it through the stage – and have shared the points in their opening fixture.
It was labelled as the match which would decide who would most likely go through alongside Brazil, and neither of the two attacking sides managed to hit the back of the net in a mixed display of solid defence and unlucky attacks.
Both defences proved themselves as they did not allow each other to get a glimpse of goal, and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo was disappointed not to break through in the first half.
The addition of Didier Drogba in the 66th minute mixed things up for the West Africans, although the striker was visibly uncomfortable as he held his injured arm throughout his time on the pitch.
The last match of the day, and the second in Group G, saw Brazil play Korea DPR at the Ellis Park Stadium.
Many wrote the North Koreans off as a side who would not be able to provide any sort of challenge to the five time world champions, but the match was certainly not one sided.
The South Americans did come away with all three points after the 2-1 result, which saw Maicon strike with what seemed an impossible shot to take the lead in the 55th minute.
Elano then doubled the lead in the 72nd, but the North Koreans did not let the Brazilians run away with the lead, with Ji Yun-Nam getting on the scoresheet a minute from the final whistle.
The win puts Brazil at the top of Group G on three points, while the Ivory Coast and Portugal sit on a single point each and North Korea round out the group – proving this is going to be a close contest.
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