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Somehow, the DNA of the international game has changed on reaching the land of the Samba. The teams have made it a point of infusing attacking play in their football without as much even realising the wholesome delight that they are serving the millions.
This is turning out to be a tournament that we are not going to forget for a while.
Divock Origi leaves it late for Belgium (again)
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The Belgians were this year’s bandwagon team. Blessed, with a generation of footballers that has won accolades all across Europe; everyone anticipated entertainment to the fullest with talents like Mertens, Hazard and Lukaku among others in their ranks.
Yet, for the second running the Red Devils flattered to deceive. Maybe it’s the big stage; maybe it’s the weight of expectations. But Marc Wilmots’ side is not looking like the same Belgian side that played with a certain swagger and fluidity that in evidence from their qualifying campaign.
In spite of all the fire power that the Belgians possess, it was left to teenager Divock Origi to find the winner for the Europeans in the 88th minute.
In fact it can be said that Belgians got off with a lucky win. They looked sloppy except for perhaps the beginning and the closing periods of the game as Fabio Capello’s Russian team looked to be more in control for larger portions of the game.
The Russians had a strong penalty claims waived off near the half-hour mark and when it came to them for applying the finishing touch, Alexander Kokorin made a mess of it. Denis Glushakov whipped the ball in to the box to find an unmarked Kokorin, only for the Dynamo Moscow man to head his attempt wide in the final moments of the first half.
The game didn’t come to life till it was about 80 minutes in when Eden Hazard’s free-kick thudded against the post of Igor Akinfeev. Hazard was showing his class and then in the 88th minute he puts the final touches that settled the game. The Chelsea man’s rampaging run from the left everyone in its trails, and when it came to make the decisive cross, Hazard found the trailing Divock Origi. The teenager didn’t buckle under pressure as he thrashed the ball home to get Belgium through to the next round.
A 32 year drought comes to an end
Amongst the games lined up for day 11, the game between Algeria and South Korea seemed to promise the least in terms of entertainment. But such has been the character of this tournament that nothing can be taken for granted.
Six goals thrillers are not commonplace in international football, even more so when it comes to the World Cup. But this year’s event has been different and no one was surprised when both the side kept on sending ripples through the back of the net every so often.
But for now let’s celebrate Algeria. For a team that was never fancied much coming into the tournament, they now look the favourite to join group leaders Belgium in the second round.
The Algerians may not have the fire power of the likes of Chile, Colombia or Costa Rica, but they have been effective all the same, and today against Korea they stepped it up a notch.
Algeria’s impressive victory over South Korea tonight marked a 32 year wait for a win at the world’s biggest stage for the nation. In the process, they also became the first African side ever to score four goals in a game at the World Cups.
Les Fennecs, just like in their last game against Belgium were impressive in the early running and could be said to be unfortunate when the referee waved away their penalty claim just five minutes into the game.
However, they weren’t set to ponder over what could have been. Within minutes, the Africans were two goals to the good. Islam Slimani and two minutes later, Rafik Halliche delivered the double whammy to put Algeria in command.
Ten minutes later as the game clock went in to its 38th minute; the Algerians put the last nails into the Korean coffin. Slimani was again involved as he played a delightful ball into the path of the unmarked Abdelmoumene Djabou, who duly obliged with a superb finish into the far corner of the net.
The Koreans came out of the interval with real intent as Son Heung-Min quickly reduced the deficit in the 50th minute, but Yacine Brahimi’s strike 12 minutes later restored the 3 goal cushion.
Korea’s indomitable spirit however made this game, one for the ages. With about 20 minutes, the Koreans struck again to reduce the deficit. Koo Ja-Cheol was on hand to get at the end of Lee Keun-Ho’s cross to put it at the back of the net from close range.
But that would be the last of any goal scoring action in this one, as South Korea missed an edge in the final third to bring the game back further.
The final whistle meant that Algeria is only a single point away from making it to the second round from a group that featured both Russia and South Korea. Wouldn’t that be something?
Late goal from Varela keeps Portugal in the competition
Like most other games in this World Cup, the script in this one was bizarre, twisted and somehow mesmerizing.
The USA has made a habit of getting involved in games that include incredibly early as well as late goals. After scoring one of the fastest goals in World Cup history and then clinching a late albeit fortunate win over Ghana, it was time that the USA was given a dose of their own medicine. Fortunately for them, the final whistle didn’t mean a big L for Jurgen Klinsmann and his men.
The Portuguese were on life support when Clint Dempsey scored with just about 10 minutes of regulation time remaining. It was hard to find a pulse, or any way to get the Portuguese.
And then it the 95th minute, Silvestre Varela happened. His timely header was enough to keep the Portuguese still breathing in the competition.
The Portuguese certainly began well as they found themselves a goal up as early as in the 5th minute. Geoff Cameron’s poor clearance fell kindly to Nani at the far post. The Manchester United man made no mistake as he slotted firmly into the roof of the net to give Selecção das Quinas the lead.
The Portuguese could have easily found themselves two goals to the good when Tim Howard made a horrible error, but to his credit, the Everton man recovered quickly to make up for his own doing.
The Americans however weren’t going to lie down and die. The second- half was a whole different story as the USMNT slowly but surely were making their presence felt. Michael Bradley had a great opportunity to bring USA level but his attempt was brilliantly cleared off the line by Ricardo Costa.
The pressure was on and it soon paid rich dividends. First, a screamer from Jermain Jones and then a chest-in from Clint Dempsey sent the Americans roaring back into the game and Portuguese in deep trouble.
But the ending was still missing. Michael Bradley, the fulcrum of the US team, the main source of everything good, turned villain. After missing a wide open goal earlier in the game, the ex-Fulham man this time tried to be cute in his own half with 30 seconds of the game to kill. His mistake was met with the severest of punishments as the ball ended up at the feet of Cristiano Ronaldo, who whipped in a spectacular cross for Varela to equalise.
The USA is still in pole position to get through to the next round even with a game against the Germans beckoning, but this would really feel like a punch to the guts.
