Men's Football Preliminaries/Match 13, Group C
GHA vs. ITA
Ghana Eliminates Italy in Men's Football:
Christian SABAH of Ghana scored two goals in a 3-2 victory as perennial powerhouse Italy was eliminated from the men's Olympic football tournament. Played before a crowd of 27,849 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C., the 1992 bronze medalists capitalized on a second-half ejection. Italian defender Fabio GALANTE was given a red card for wrapping his left arm around Augustine ARHINFUL and pulling him down directly in front of the goal. That set up a penalty kick by ARHINFUL which he converted in the 63rd minute to tie the game at 2-2. SABAH drilled both his goals, including the game winner, from distances of 23 and 20 yards. Besides GALANTE'S ejection, the match was marred by 11 yellow cards, including six by Ghana. SABAH'S winning goal came in the 73rd minute of play. Marco BRANCA, the eldest player on the Italian team, accounted for both of Italy's goals. He put Italy ahead with brilliant ball-handling work in the 8th minute and a penalty kick a minute before halftime. The win kept Ghana (1-1-0) in contention for one of two Group C quarterfinal contests. Ghana needs a victory over Mexico (1-0-1) on Thursday to be assured of advancing to the next round. Italy will face South Korea (1-0-1) in Birmingham, Ala. Final Score: GHA 3, ITA 2.
KOR vs. MEX
South Korea, Mexico Play to Scoreless Tie in Men's Football:
Mexico and South Korea entered Tuesday night's Group C men's Olympic football meeting sporting identical 1-0-0 records following opening round victories. But when the match concluded at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. before a pro-Mexican crowd of 26,211, the two teams remained deadlock for the lead following a scoreless tie. Both teams made serious scoring threats hitting the goalposts and crossbar on several occasions throughout the match, but neither could convert the opportunities. The two teams conclude preliminary play on Thursday (25 July). Mexico (1-0-1) will meet Ghana (1-1-0) in Washington, D.C. while South Korea (1-0-1) takes on Italy (0-2-0) back at Legion Field. Final Score: KOR 0, MEX 0.
BRA vs. HUN
Favored Brazil Beats Hungary in Men's Football:
Brazil silenced their critics Tuesday night, following a shaky start in the men's Olympic football tournament, with a 3-1 victory over Hungary at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Brazil (1-1-0), the Olympic football favorites, got off on the wrong foot during Sunday's opening round with an embarrassing 1-0 loss to Japan which prompted criticism back home. Second half goals by JUNINHO and BEBETO broke a 1-1 tie to keep Brazil's medal hopes alive. JUNINHO took a cross pass from Flavio CONCEICAO in the 61st minute and shot from inside the box to break the deadlock. BEBETO added his score in the 84th minute for the clincher. Hungary (0-2-0), making its first Olympic football appearance since 1972, likely will not advance to the quarterfinal round. Brazil must next take on unbeaten Nigeria (2-0-0) in Group D in their final preliminary game on Thursday in Miami. Hungary will face Japan in Orlando. Final Score: BRA 3, HUN 1.
JPN vs. NGR
Nigeria Blanks Japan in Men's Football:
Goals in the final 7 minutes of play, an own goal and a penalty kick, led Nigeria to a 2-0 blanking of Japan Tuesday night at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. The victory moves Nigeria (2-0-0) one step closer to one of two men's Olympic football Group D quarterfinal slots. Japan (1-1-0) and Nigeria played to a scoreless tie until the 83rd minute when Tijani BABANGIDA's bouncing shot caromed off the chest of sliding Japanese defender Tadahiro AKIBA and into the net. Nigeria's final score came in the 89th minute from Augustine OKOCHA's penalty kick was set up by a handball violation called on Hideto SUZUKI. Nigeria's next opponent is gold medal favorite Brazil (1-1-0) in the final preliminary match on Thursday. A victory or tie against Brazil will advance Nigeria. Japan needs to beat Hungary (0-2-0) on Thursday to remain in the running. Final Score: NGR 2, JPN 0.
NOR vs. GER
Norway Rebounds With Women's Football Victory:
Embarrassed just two days earlier, favored Norway (1-0-1) regained its composure with a 3-2 victory over Germany in women's Olympic football Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Playing to a 2-2 deadlock with Brazil on Sunday, 21 July, Norway continued its winning ways over Germany in a rematch of last year's world championships final. Hege RIISE scored the winning goal in the 66th minute on a 22-yard free kick. Ann AARONES and Linda MEDALEN scored first-half goals for Norway while Germany matched with goals by Bettina WIEGMANN and Birgit PRINZ. Germany (1-1-0) twice tied the game, only to have Norway regain the lead minutes later. Norway first led on a rebounded post shot by MEDALEN in the sixth minute. WIEGMANN caught Norway's defenders napping to tie the match in the 34th minute. But Norway got the ball to bounce their way a minute later when a German defender accidentally banked a shot off a charging MEDALEN'S head for the goal. Germany tied the score at 2-2 in the 63rd minute when PRINZ simply outran her defender. Norway once again struck back quickly on RIISE'S free kick. Final Score: NOR 3, GER 2.
BRA vs. JPN
Brazil Dooms Japan in Women's Football:
Brazil (1-0-1) earned its first win of the 1996 Olympic women's football tournament with a 2-0 shutout of Japan before an estimated crowd of 20,000 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. KATIA broke a scoreless tie in the 68th minute of play en route to the win which eliminated Japan (0-2-0) from advancing in the Olympic tournament. Brazil's victory comes just two days after Japan surprised their male counterparts, the favorite to win the men's football tournament. The tie finally was broken on a corner kick by FANTA, who chipped the ball into a crowd in front of the goal. The ball bounced off two players right to KATIA, who fired a shot for the goal. A few minutes later, PRETINHA blasted a shot that put the Brazilians up 2-0. Brazil completes its preliminary round against Germany (1-1-0) in Birmingham on Thursday. Final Score: BRA 2, JPN 0.
USA vs. SWE
U.S. Remains Unbeaten With Women's Football Win Over Sweden:
The United States women's Olympic football squad remains unbeaten in Group E play following a 2-1 victory over Sweden at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. on Tuesday. The United States (2-0-0) clinched a berth in the semifinals of the inaugural women's Olympic football tournament with the win. Tisha VENTURINI and Shannon MACMILLAN provided the U.S. team with the offense to win their 15th consecutive game this year. VENTURINI gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the first half. MACMILLAN'S goal came in the 61st minute for a 2-0 lead. Sweden's lone score followed 2 minutes later on an own goal by U.S. defender Carla OVERBECK. The next U.S. opponent will be China (2-0-0) on Thursday, 25 July at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fla. Final Score: USA 2, SWE 1.
DEN vs. CHN
China Pounds Denmark 5-1 in Women's Football:
Four first-half goals by China spelled disaster for Danish women's football, which suffered its second consecutive pounding in these Olympic Games on Tuesday in a 5-1 loss. Denmark (0-2-0) was defeated 3-0 by the United States in Sunday's opening round match. Tuesday's loss doomed Denmark from advancing any further in the eight-team Olympic tournament. China (2-0-0) can position itself rather nicely in the tournament depending the outcome of its next match in Miami on Thursday against the unbeaten U.S. squad (2-0-0). The teams, which have clinched spots in the next round, share the Group E lead.
SUN Qingmei guided China to victory with two goals against Denmark. SHI Guihong scored China's first goal in the 10th minute. Four minutes later, LIU Ailing made it 2-0 and SUN raised China's edge to 3-0 in the 29th minute off a cross from SHI. FAN Yunjie completed the first-half scoring on a deflected attempt on goal and kicked in the rebound in the 36th minute for a 4-0 advantage. Denmark earned its first goal of the Olympic Games on Lene MADSEN'S goal off a corner kick in the 55th minute. SUN completed China's scoring with a goal in the 60th minute. Final Score: CHN 5, DEN 1.
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| The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July). |