Brazil tops Costa Rica 1-0 in U-20 semifinals

October 14, 2009

Costa Rica allowed a second-half goal and was beaten by Brazil 1-0 in the Under-20 World Cup semifinals on Tuesday.

The result sends Costa Rica to Friday’s third-place game against Hungary, already having achieved its best performance at the biennial youth championship.

Costa Rica reached the second round in 2001 in Argentina, its furthest advancement in six previous trips to the U-20 finals.

Brazil will play Friday for the title against Ghana, which beat Hungary 3-2 in the other semifinal earlier Tuesday.

The match was a marked improvement for Costa Rica – which was the last team to qualify for the second round — from its first match against Brazil, when it was beaten 5-0 in its open game of the group stage.

Brazil finally converted a dominant possession game in the 67th minute when Bertucci’s curling left-footed cross just cleared the head of teammate Alex Teixeira but landed at the feet of Alan Kardec, who hit a powerful volley from near the byline between the near post and goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado.

The goal was reward for Brazil, which had more than twice the possession, shots on goal and corners as the CONCACAF champion, but created few dangerous chances.

Of Brazil’s nine shots on goal, most were directly at Alvarado, who had his best moment by extending his left hand to knock away Souza’s shot from 10 meters from in front of the goal.

Costa Rica had few chances but tested Brazilian keeper twice in the first half, a free kick by David Guzman that had to be tipped over the bar in the 16th minute and Marcos Urena’s right-footed shot on a counter that was pushed around the near post by Rafael in the 44th.

CAIRO, Egypt

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Tags: alan kardec, alex teixeira, Argentina, best performance, brazil, brazil 1, byline, Cairo, cairo egypt, Costa Rica, curling, david guzman, Egypt, Esteban Alvarado, free kick, ghana, group stage, Hungary, left hand, Marcos Urena, open game, place game, possession game, Rafael, souza, teammate, volley, world cup semifinals

Hosts Egypt beat Trinidad and Tobago at U-20 World Cup

September 25, 2009

Over 84,000 fans watched as hosts Egypt won the opening match of the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, beating Trinidad and Tobago 4-1.

The first goal of the tournament came after 30 minutes at Alexandria’s Egyptian Army Stadium. Mostafa Afroto found a way past two defenders and his following shot beat keeper Samuel for 1-0.

T&T equalized six minutes later however, as Jean-Luc Rochford received a ball from Jack Thomson and easily finished for 1-1.

But Egypt restored their advantage six minutes after the break. Samuel failed to properly clear a corner kick and allowed Arafat to strike home from the edge of the box. Mohamed Talaat then made it 3-1 in minute 59 after Samuel had only managed to parry an Ahmed effort.

The fourth and final goal came in injury time, when Arafat’s curling shot left Samuel beaten once again. At this point, both teams had already hit the woodwork on earlier occasions.

The other two teams in this group, Italy and Paraguay, face off on Friday.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Ahmed, alexandria, arafat, corner kick, curling, Egypt, egyptian army, fifa u 20, fifa u 20 world cup, Italy, jack thomson, jean luc, mohamed, mostafa, paraguay, rochford, Samuel, six minutes, t amp, talaat, trinidad and tobago, u 20 world cup, woodwork

Drogba double does for Hull

August 15, 2009

Didier Drogba scored twice, including a stoppage-time winner, as Chelsea marked Carlo Ancelotti’s first match in the Premier League with a 2-1 opening day win over Hull here on Saturday.

Drogba, who should have scored in the second minute, sealed all three points for the English title contenders when, in the second minute of added-on time, his cross-shot floated over Hull keeper Boaz Myhill to the delight of home fans at Stamford Bridge.

It had seemed that Hull were destined to frustrate Chelsea after new signing Stephen Hunt gave the Tigers a shock lead before Drogba equalised.

Chelsea, who finished third last season, then squandered numerous second-half chances, much to the frustration of their Italian boss, before finally taking all three points.

Chelsea should have gone ahead in the second minute when Drogba shot wide from just six yards out after a fine cross from Michael Essien.

And the Blues were made to pay for that miss when Hunt, on his Hull debut, gave the visitors a 28th-minute lead when the ball broke in the box to the Republic of Ireland midfielder, who finished precisely.

It was a goal to enrage Chelsea fans who have never forgiven Hunt for his role, when at Reading, in the challenge that led to Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech suffering a fractured skull.

Hull’s lead did not last long, though.

Less than 10 minutes later Drogba equalised with a curling free-kick from 28 yards after John-Obi Mikel had been fouled.

Chelsea should have made it 2-1 in the first minute of the second-half when Nicolas Anelka shot straight at Hull keeper Boaz Myhill from close range.

Myhill then kept Hull in the game when he blocked at the feet of both Anelka and Drogba in quick succession in the 57th minute.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Boaz Myhill, carlo ancelotti, cech, CHELSEA, close range, curling, Drogba, enrage, fractured skull, free kick, home fans, HULL, John Obi, john obi mikel, london, Michael Essien, midfielder, Mikel, Nicolas Anelka, opening day, Petr Cech, premier league, republic of ireland, stamford bridge, Stephen Hunt, time winner, title contenders

Mexico defeats Guatemala 3-0 to return to U-17 World Cup

April 26, 2009

TIJUANA, Mexico – Kristian Alvarez scored a goal in each half to lead Mexico to a 3-0 win against Guatemala on Friday, clinching a berth in the CONCCACAF U-17 Championship semifinals and returning El Tri to the World Cup for the first time since it was crowned champion in 2005.

Costa Rica helped its chances of joining them in Nigeria in October with a 3-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago in the early match of a Group B doubleheader.

Behind a rowdy sold-out, standing-room crowd, Mexico controlled the possession in the first half and matched Guatemala’s offensive pressure in the final 45 minutes to muster the win. The result ended Mexico’s frustration in age-limited tournaments, having missed out on qualifying for the 2007 U-17 World Cup, the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 U-20 World Cup.

“Mexico has lost some credibility in this region over the years,” Mexico coach Jose Luis Gonzalez said in Spanish. “But things are being done correctly now. Mexico is qualified and we’ve played two solid matches thus far.”
Mexico captain Kristian Alvarez scored in each half and Carlos Campos converted a penalty kick to account for El Tri’s goals.

Both of Alvarez’ goals came via headers off set pieces.

His first came in the 41st minute when he deflected Martin Galvan’s bending free kick and headed it past Guatemala goalkeeper Eddy Garcia.

Galvan’s cross sailed into the penalty area from about 35 yards when Alvarez leaped over a teammate and defender to get enough of the curling ball.

Alvarez scored again in similar fashion 30 minutes later, able to nudge a Campos free kick just enough to direct it into the net.

Campos sealed the scoring with his penalty in the 86th minute after referee Hector Recinos whistled Guatemala defender Daniel Marin for a foul on Efren Mendoza.

Guatemala showed a different face in the second half, often pressuring Mexico and moving up its lines. It was a change of pace compared to the first half, enabling it to match Mexico on shots on goal with eight apiece.

Most of the first half was played on Guatemala’s side with Mexico pressing and Guatemala looking to counter..

El Tri sent a flurry of shots toward Garcia’s goal to no avail until Alvarez’s header connected.

Gil Cordero and Victor Mañon had clear opportunities, both shooting from distance in the 25th minute.

Cordero’s shot bounced near the right post and Mañon’s right-footed blast shaved the left post.

“It took a while but we finally were able to take advantage with our free kicks,” Mañon said. “We showed that with the first two goals.”

But perhaps Mexico’s clearest chance came in the 38th minute, when Erick Vera sent what looked like a floating cross that hit the crossbar.

Mexico will close group play against Costa Rica, who eliminated Trinidad and Tobago with the early result.

Costa Rica striker Joel Campbell scored his second goal of the tournament, Rosbin Mayorga and Juan Bustos added a goal each in the first half to help the Ticos to four points.

The Ticos dominated possession in the opening half with a one-touch scheme, often catching Trinidad and Tobago’s defense flat.

Costa Rica capitalized in the 14th minute when Campbell sent a right-footed shot past Trinidad goalkeeper John Thomas from 30 yards.

Costa Rica also scored from close range.

Bustos sent a loose ball into the net in the 18th minute from near the penalty spot after a Trinidad and Tobago defender botched a clearance attempt.

Mayorga’s goal also was from inside the area, tapping in a filtered ball from Bustos in the 37th started with a rolling ball from Cambpell.

Trinidad pressured Costa Rica on several occasions in the second half but couldn’t convert.

Trinidad’s clearest opportunity came in the 57th minute when Ryan McLeod deflected a Dillon Kirton corner kick, heading it over the cross bar.

Coach Anton Corneal’s team had eight shots in the second half compared to Costa Rica’s six but the Ticos were too much in the opening half where they out-shot their opponent 10-3.

Costa Rica sits in second place behind Mexico while Guatemala needs a win against Trinidad and Tobago in the final group match to have a chance at advancing.

By Ivan Orozco

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Tags: 2008 olympics, berth, captain Kristian Alvarez, championship semifinals, change of pace, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Costa Rica, curling, different face, Dillon Kirton, doubleheader, Eddy Garcia, el tri, Erick Vera, free kick, Gil Cordero, Goalkeeper, Hector Recinos, john thomas, Juan, kristian alvarez, martin galvan, Mayorga, Mendoza, Mexico, nigeria, offensive pressure, penalty kick, Ryan McLeod, shots on goal, tijuana, tijuana mexico, trinidad and tobago, u 20 world cup, Victor Mañon

Mexico beats Guatemala 3-0 to return to U-17 World Cup

April 25, 2009