COPENHAGEN, May 18: A disputed penalty secured Denmark’s 2-1 win over African champions Cameroon in their World Cup warm-up match in Copenhagen Friday.
Norwegian referee Rune Pedersen awarded the 58th minute penalty for a foul on Claus Jensen, converted by Jon Dahl Tomasson, which gave the Danes a 2-0 lead even coach Morten Olsen admitted was unfair and undeserved.
The Danes dominated the first half but only went ahead through an own goal from Lucien Mettomo, who deflected Dennis Rommedahl’s cross into his own net after 20 minutes.
It was only after the penalty that Cameroon opened up, showing the form that saw them draw with Argentina in March.
After spurning a series of half-chances Modeste Mbami pulled a goal back, heading home from a well-worked set piece on 74 minutes.
Cameroon have been drawn against Germany, Ireland and Saudi Arabia in group E. Denmark meet holders France, Senegal and Uruguay in group A in the opening round of the finals.
LJUBLJANA: Slovenia will depart for Japan and their final preparations for their debut at the World Cup finals boosted by Friday’s 2-0 win over Ghana in an international friendly, according to coach Srecko Katanec.
Benfica midfielder Zlatko Zahovic put the home side ahead from a free-kick in 25th minute that completely fooled Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingston as he dived the wrong way.
Slovenia dominated the first half but were unable to extend their lead until just before halftime, when Unterhaching midfielder Dzoni Novak scored after being set up by Lecce’s Sebastjan Cimirotic.
In the second half Slovenia sat back and made sporadic attacks on the break, while the young Ghana team — their oldest player was 24 — tried hard but could not get past home side’s resolute defence.
MOSCOW: Russia’s morale suffered a big setback just two weeks before the World Cup finals after they were knocked out by Belarus 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out in a four-team international tournament in Moscow Friday.
Denis Kovba finally beat Russia keeper Ruslan Nigmatullin after each side took seven kicks apiece following a 1-1 draw.
Belarus goalkeeper Gennady Tumilovich, who had an outstanding match, saved four out of seven penalties.
Belarus will now face Ukraine in Sunday’s final, while the Russians meet Yugoslavia in a consolation match.
Dynamo Kiev midfielder Valentin Belkevich put Belarus ahead in the 15th minute when he beat Nigmatullin with a low shot from 20 metres after a nice set-up by AC Milan striker Vitaly Kutuzov.
The Russians equalised thanks to a controversial 28th-minute penalty — converted by fullback Andrei Solomatin — after striker Denis Laktionov was judged to be fouled inside the box.
The Russians, who made sevaral changes after the interval, tried to assert themselves, but were lacking imagination and quickness in the second half, played in a pouring rain.
Russia assistant coach Mikhail Gershkovich, however, played down a disappointing performance by his side.
Russia coach Oleg Romantsev said that he will name his 23-man squad on May 21.
Ukraine beat Yugoslavia 2-0 in an ugly opening game after a massive brawl erupted in the middle of the field at the end of an otherwise uneventful contest.
Lithuanian referee Paulius Malzinskas red carded Yugoslav captain Sinisa Mihaijlovic and Ukrainian substitute Serhiy Skachenko before ordering the teams off the pitch.
Ukraine fullback Serhiy Fyodorov opened the scoring in the 28th minute and substitute Volodymyr Masalitin sealed the victory on a quick counter-attack 12 minutes from time.
Ukrainian players wore black armbands and teams observed a minute’s silence before each match in memory of Dynamo Kiev coach Valery Lobanovsky, who died on Monday.
Russia are the only team in the tournament to be taking part in the World Cup finals where they are drawn in the same group as Japan, Belgium and Tunisia.
STOCKHOLM: Goals from Roque Santacruz and Carlos Paredes gave a defensive Paraguay a convincing 2-1 win over an injury hit Sweden in a World Cup warm-up friendly on Friday.
Boding ill for Sweden, who are to play Argentina, England and Nigeria in the World Cup’s Group F, Santacruz proved too fast and agile for Sweden’s ageing central defenders Patrik Andersson and Johan Mjallby.
The Bayern Munich striker sprinted away from Mjallby to head home Paraguay’s first goal from close range in the 17th minute on a precise Jorge Campos cross from the left at the end of a swift counter-attack.
Santacruz forced Sweden goalkeeper Magnus Hedman to a fine save with another header after a carbon-copy attack in the 30th minute with Denis Caniza serving the cross — again against the flow of play and with Andersson trailing.
Nine minutes later Santacruz struck with a header again, this time on a Campos cross from the right, but was denied by a one-handed save from Hedman.
A sudden Santacruz rush confused Hedman for a crucial fraction of a second in the 44th minute, allowing a far-out free kick from Carlos Paredes to bounce into the far corner of the goal, giving Paraguay a 2-0 lead.
Sweden, who were without injured midfielders Fredrik Ljungberg and Anders Svensson as well as defender Olof Mellberg, pulled one back early in the second half when midfielder Andreas Andersson’s left-foot shot from 16 metres took a deflection from defender Francisco Arce and surprised Paraguay’s charismatic goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert.
Andreas Andersson had a good chance to equalise a few minutes later and substitute striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed a close range shot in the 82nd minute but Paraguay’s solid defence never looked seriously threatened.
Paraguay play South Africa, Spain and Slovenia in the opening phase of the World Cup.—Reuters
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