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| June 17, 2005 | Friday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 9, 1426 |
Zinha-inspired Mexico overcome stubborn Japan
HANNOVER (Germany), June 16: Mexico stretched their unbeaten run to 19 matches with a 2-1 win over Zico’s Japan in the Confederations Cup on Thursday. Atsushi Yanagisawa gave the Japanese an early lead before playmaker Zinha’s exquisite equaliser, with Jose Fonseca bagging the second half winner to put Ricardo Lavolpe’s side temporarily top of Group B before Thursday’s late match between Brazil and Greece.
Mexico, who beat Brazil to win the 1999 edition, were missing four first choice players on Copa Libertadores duty as well as injured Barcelona defender Rifael Marquez.
Japan, the first country to reserve their 2006 World Cup seat, welcomed back their best known stars, Fiorentina’s Hidetoshi Nakata, and Shunsuke Nakamura, both suspended for their last game against North Korea.
Mexico went close to taking a seventh minute lead but Japan defender Akira Kaji headed away a floating shot from the right with keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi beaten.
And the FC Tokyo player was soon instrumental in putting Japan ahead when in the 12th minute he burst down the right flank, crossing to the waiting Yanagisawa who deftly flicked the ball with his backheel past keeper Oswaldo.
Mexico levelled in the 39th minute when a high ball fell to Zinha outside the area and with the Japanese defence asleep the Brazil-born midfielder had what seemed an eternity before lobbing it into the top right hand corner well out of reach of Kawaguchi’s grasping hands.
To honour Zinha’s third international goal a Mexican wave, what else, rippled round the half empty stadium which numbered Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger among the crowd.
West Brom’s Atsuhiro Inamoto replaced Nakamura on the hour and the Premiership player was quick to get into the thick of things with a dangerous 30-yard shot which skimmed the wrong side of the crossbar.
But then second half substitute Luis Perez crossed a high ball into the box for Fonseca to head home in the 64th minute to get Mexico’s Confed Cup camapign off to the perfect start.
GERMANY BEAT AUSTRALIA
Earlier on Wednesdayh hosts Germany got off to a winning start in the Confederations Cup but their 4-3 victory over Australia was far from convincing.
It was Jurgen Klinsmann’s first competitive match in charge of Germany and the 1990 World Cup winner was given the perfect start when Kevin Kuranyi opened the scoring after 18 minutes.
But Australia are not short of fighting spirit and twice came from behind with Josip Skoko (21) and John Aloisi (31) levelling after Per Mertesacker had restored Germany’s lead on 23 minutes.
Four goals in 13 crazy minutes summed up the match and there was more goals to come in the second half.
Michael Ballack scored a 60th minute penalty and then Lukas Podolski clinched the match rendering Aloisi’s late goal nothing more than a consolation.
Germany now sit top of Group A with Argentina, who beat Tunisia 2-1 earlier on Wednesday, but the shaky defence will concern manager Klinsmann.
His opposite number in the dug-out, Frank Farina, will also be keen to shore up an Australia rearguard that looked uneasy throughout.
With just 40 seconds gone Podolski almost put Germany in front but his fierce shot went inches wide of Mark Schwarzer’s post.
Kuranyi then did put Germany ahead in the 18th minute guiding in a shot from Arne Friedrich with Schwarzer left wrong-footed.
Australia may have feared the worst but took 180 seconds to draw level with Skoko drilling a free-kick under a dreadful German wall after Robert Huth produced a cynical body check outside the area.
They say teams are most vulnerable after scoring and Australia were dormant in the 23rd minute when Mertesacker restored Germany’s lead with an accomplished volley.
It was Mertesacker’s first goal for his country but he did not have long time to celebrate with Aloisi levelling after 31 minutes with a left-footed drive.
After some heated challenges, which suggest both these sides are taking the tournament seriously, Klinsmann’s side forged ahead for the third time on the hour mark.
Arne Friedrich was judged to have been felled in the area and the reliable Michael Ballack stepped up to convert the spot-kick.
Podolski scored two minutes from time but Aloisi struck again in stoppage time before the final whistle brought an end to a scintillating match.
—Agencies
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