The Hindu : Sport : Germany through after penalty shoot-out

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Saturday, Jul 01, 2006

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Germany through after penalty shoot-out

BERLIN: Jens Lehmann made two key saves in the penalty shootout Friday to send Germany into the World Cup semifinals with a 4-2 win over Argentina.

Lehmann saved shots from Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso to give the host team the win after a tense 1-1 draw at the Olympic Stadium.

Oliver Neuville, Michael Ballack, Lukas Podolski and Tim Borowski all scored for the Germans. Julio Cruz and Maxi Rodriguez scored for Argentina.

``We have a strong belief in Jens Lehmann,'' Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann said. ``As a former striker, I don't want to face him, and he proved that.''

The end of the shootout was marred by pushing and shoving on the field, with several Argentine players surrounding the referee before order was restored.

Miroslav Klose headed in the goal that sent the match into extra time in the 80th minute.

Ballack crossed the ball into the center for Borowski, who headed on to Klose. The Polish-born Germany striker then scored his tournament-leading fifth World Cup goal by beating backup goalkeeper Leonardo Franco.

Franco, who was playing in a World Cup for the first time, came on for Roberto Abbondanzieri. Argentina's starting goalkeeper left the field in the 71st, about five minutes after a collision with Klose on a free kick.

Ayala had put Argentina in the lead in the 49th with a header off a corner from Juan Roman Riquelme.

``Both teams made very few mistakes,'' Ballack said. ``It was very tight.''

The winner will play Italy or Ukraine in the semifinals on Tuesday in Dortmund.

-AP

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