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Australia draws with Croatia to enter second round
Australia advanced to the second round of the World Cup after coming back to hold Croatia to a 2-2 draw on Thursday in Group F.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 10:34 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Stuttgart:
Australia advanced to the second round of the World Cup after coming back to hold Croatia to a 2-2 draw on Thursday in Group F. Harry Kewell scored the equaliser in the 79th minute from close range to give Australia four points and second place behind Brazil. Croatia took the lead in the third minute following a dipping free kick by Darijo Srna. Craig Moore equalised for Australia with a penalty kick in the 39th minute after Stjepan Tomas handled the ball in the box. The Croats went up again in the 79th minute after a goalkeeping blunder by Zeljko Kalac, who came in to replace standard goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. Captain Niko Kovac shot from about 20 meters and the ball rolled over Kalac's hands in the 56th. Australia will face Italy on Monday in Kaiserslautern. Brazil, which beat Japan 4-1 in the other Group F match, will face Ghana on Tuesday in Dortmund. Instead of galvanising the Croatians, Srna's goal awoke the Australians and prompted a series of attacks. The pressure was rewarded with the penalty. Moore sent the goalkeeper one way and the ball the other. The match was billed as a clash of loyalties. Seven players of Croatian descent play for Australia, while three of Croatia's grew up in Australia. Australia came into the match needing only a draw to progress into the round of 16. The Croats could only get through with a victory. Dario Simic got sent off for Croatia and Australia's Brett Emerton also received a red card in the second half. Josip Simunic was red carded after the final whistle. (AP)Topics mentioned in this article
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