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≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡
Two routs and two thrillers on a busy Sunday in the U.S. and Mexico!
● Group E: Germany 7, Curacao 1 ● This was expected to be a mismatch in Houston, and it was. But there was some drama.
The Germans scored on midfielder Felix Nmecha’s shot from the top of the box in the sixth minute for a 1-0 lead, but Curacao scored its first-ever World Cup goal in the 21st on defender Livano Comenencia’s blast from 19 yards with the left foot from the top of the box beat keeper Manuel Neuer to equal at 1-1.
The tie lasted beyond the hydration break, then the Germans got cracking. A cross from defender Nathaniel Brown in the 38th found defender Nico Schlotterbeck for a header to the left corner of the net and a 2-1 lead, then forward Kai Havertsz converted a penalty to the left corner of the net at 45+5 for a 3-1 lead at the half. The Germans had 72% possession and a 16-4 lead on shots.
Any ideas of a comeback were dashed in the 47th, as midfielder Joshua Kimmich’s lead pass allowed midfielder Jamal Musiata to score on a right-footed shot to the far (left) corner of the net; 4-1.
The Germans kept coming as Curacao tired. Brown scored on a right-footed volley off forward Deniz Undav’s pass in the 68th (5-1), then Undav got a goal in the 78th off an assist by Kimmich. The final goal came from Havertsz on a left-footer from the center of the box in the 88th, following a pass from Undav.
In the end, Germany had 65% of possession and a 26-8 shots advantage, as expected.
● Group E: Ivory Coast 1, Ecuador 0 ● The second game of the group was in Philadelphia, with a scoreless first half that was still entertaining. Ecuador had the better chances, slamming two shots off the crossbar, first in the 23rd on a left-footed strike by forward John Yeboah and then by forward Alan Minda in the 30th!
Ecuador had 55% possession in the half and the shots were even at six each, in hot and humid (63%) conditions, with temperatures still at 80 F at the start of the second half.
The crossbar helped Ecuador in the second half as Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi chipped a shot trying to get the ball over the keeper, but it glanced off the woodwork. Both teams found chances, but no goals.
In a back-and-forth game where no one could get the ball on the net when needed, the big break came in the 90th, with a cross from defender Wilfried Singo from the right side to just beyond the top of the box in the middle of the field to Amad Diallo, who sent a left-footed volley ripping into the left corner of the net, beyond a diving keeper Hernan Galindez for the 1-0 lead.
Ecuador finished with 52% possession, but the Ivory Coast – the Elephants – had 15 shots to 12, and the one that counted.
● Group F: Netherlands 2, Japan 2 ● The most-anticipated match of the day was this clash in Dallas and it lived up to the billing. The first half was a struggle, with no score and both teams playing stern defense. While the Dutch had 69% of possession – unusual against Japan – they managed just five shots to three for Japan.
Things picked up pretty quickly in the second half as the Orange found the net, on a header by defender Virgil van Dijk in the 51st, thanks to a service from midfielder Ryan Gravenberch into the box, for a 1-0 lead.
But Japan equalized just six minutes later, with Takefusa Kubo passing from the endline, back to Keito Nakamura at the top of the box, who turned and fired and his shot glanced off the foot of Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke and into the goal: 1-1!
But the Dutch came back in the 64th, as forward Crysencio Summerville had space at the right corner of the box, lined up and sent a left-footed laser to the left side of the Japan net and caromed in off the post for the 2-1 lead.
That looked like a possible game winner, but Japan kept coming and in the 89th, off a corner, forward Koki Ogawa headed the ball forward and it went off the head of midfielder Daichi Kamada – standing in front of him – and flew into the net for the tie!
In the end, the Dutch had 60% of possession overall and the shots were 10-10. Neither will be too upset with this result against a difficult opponent.
● Group F: Sweden 5, Tunisia 1 ● The nightcap in Monterrey (MEX) had the Swedes on fire from the kick and taking the lead in the seventh minute. After a partial clearance by Tunisian keeper Mouhib Chamakh, Swedish forward Viktor Gyokeres sent a shot near the top of the box that was blocked by defender Montassar Talbi. It ricocheted out to forward Yasin Ayari, who scored with a lightning smash from the top of the box to the far side of the Tunisian net for a 1-09 lead.
Sweden struck again in the 30th with forward Alexander Isak rolling down the left side of the Tunisian half, turning into the middle of the field and sending another strike to the far side of the net to go up 2-0.
But just before the half, Tunisia got back into the game on a cross from midfielder Hannibal Mejbri right in front of the Swedish goal and headed in by defender Omar Rekik in the 43rd to cut the deficit to 2-1.
But after halftime, the Swedes had more answers, as after a turnover in the Tunisian end, Isak fed the ball forward and to his right to Gyokeres, who lifted it by the keeper and into the goal for a 3-1 lead in the 50th.
And the issue was comprehensively decided in the 84th, as substitute Mattias Svanberg took a back-heel tap from Isak in traffic in front of goal and slammed it into the far side of the net for a 4-1 advantage.
At 90+6, a final strike confirmed Sweden’s dominance, with a brilliant long-distance blast following a turnover by Ayari, who had space beyond the top of the box and left no doubt with the 5-1 win final.
Tunisia actually had 51% of possession, but Sweden had a 13-6 shots edge and all of the quality on the night.
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