Aussies rue late penalty
Aussies rue late penalty
Also In The News
|
Nine-man Portugal set up a quarter-final clash with England after a 1-0 win over nine-man Holland in a fiery match in Nuremberg. |  |
Monday, 26, Jun 2006 10:52
Australian coach Guus Hiddink was left to rue the late penalty which gave Italy a 1-0 win over the Socceroos in their World Cup second round tie.
The three-time World Cup winners had been reduced to ten men for much of the second-half after Marco Materazzi was sent off but reached the last eight when Francesco Totti converted an injury-time penalty to break Aussie hearts.
Hiddink couldn't contain his disappointment afterwards at the harshness of the spot-kick, given after Blackburn Rovers defender Lucas Neill was adjudged to have brought down Italian left-back Fabio Grosso.
"You can have doubts about the penalty, it was questionable," Hiddink said.
"We are very disappointed because we were so close and I think the only thing we can blame ourselves for is that we were not deadly enough in the area."
While Italy created plenty in the first-half, it was the Australians who enjoyed the majority of the possession in the second period as they attempted to convert their man advantage into a goal.
However, Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon wasn't worked seriously throughout the 90 minutes and they were punished at the death.
Australian striker Mark Viduka, who prior to the World Cup said this might be his swansong for the Socceroos, admitted that it was difficult to lose so late in the game.
"I think we dominated the match for many parts and with an extra player it made it easier for us but it's a really bad way to go out," Viduka said.
"We're obviously happy we've got this far but so disappointing to go out in the fashion we did."
Italy will now play Ukraine in Hamburg on Friday.