The Hindu : Sport / Football : China, Spain in second round

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

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Sport - Football

China, Spain in second round

UTRECHT (THE Netherlands): China and Spain claimed the first two spots in the second round of the World Youth Championship with wins on Tuesday. The Chinese team overcame a one-goal deficit to beat Ukraine 3-2 in Group B and Spain crushed Chile 7-0 in Group C.

Also, the United States and Germany moved closer after a 0-0 draw in Group D, while Argentina rebounded from its opening loss by beating Egypt 2-0.

In other games, Turkey edged Panama 1-0 and Morocco blanked Honduras 5-0.

Peng Cui headed in the match-winning goal for China in the 75th minute. "Our secret today was the team spirit and our hard work," said China coach Eckhard Krautzun.

Vorobei opens scoring

Ukraine opened the scoring in the 19th minute through Dmytro Vorobei, but Ting Zhu equalised with a volley at the far post.

China took a 2-1 lead when Chen Tao scored from the penalty spot, and Ukraine midfielder Alexander Aliiev levelled with another penalty — his third goal of the tournament.

China played the last half hour with 10 men after Zhu was sent off the when he hit Olexander Sytnyk in the box.

"I think this match demonstrated that we have potential," Ukraine coach Alexei Mikhailichenko said. "The main reason from our loss today was that we could not score on several occasions."

Spain got four goals from Fernando Llorente and two from substitute Silva. Robuste added the other. The Spaniards now have six points from two matches, followed by Chile and Morocco with three each.

Experimental rule

Chile went a man down shortly before halftime when Gonzalo Jara earned two yellow cards under an experimental FIFA tournament rule intended to prevent delays.

Players who touch the ball after the referee calls a foul against their team are automatically shown yellow. Jara, who was helping return the ball, couldn't believe he was being punished a second time.

Freddy Adu added technical sparkle to a physical performance by the U.S. team in its scoreless draw with Germany. Adu, the youngest, smallest and lightest player on the field in the Group D game, set up teammate Eddie Gaven with a perfect pass in the 39th minute, but German goalkeeper Rene Adler smothered the first attempt from the MetroStars midfielder.

When Gaven went for the rebound, it looked as if he was pushed down by a German defender but the referee failed to give a penalty. In a goalmouth scramble following the corner, Gaven again was denied by a sterling reflex save by Adler.

The results: Group B: At Utrecht: China 3 (Zhu Ting 31, Chen Tao 66-penalty, Cui Peng 75) bt Ukraine 2 (Vorobei 19, Aliiev 70-penalty); Turkey 1 (Gulec 24) bt Panama 0. Group C: at Doetinchem: Morocco 5 (Iajour 31, 43; Bendamou 55, Benjelloun 81, Chihi 90) bt Honduras 0; Spain 7 (Llorente 8, 62, 78, 81; Robuste 51, Silva 71, 85) bt Chile 0. Group D: at Enschede: Argentina 2 (Messi 47, Zabaleta 90) bt Egypt 0. — AP

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