Skip to main content

Panama end pointless as Tunisia surge to 2-1 win in Group G dead rubber

Source: https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/world-cup/world-cup-2018-panama-vs-tunisia-live-coverage/news-story/910bb81fa3e864233b9c4f3f456b6c3f

TUNISIA captain Wahbi Khazri set up a second-half goal and then scored one of his own to help his side secure its first victory in a World Cup in four decades. 

The striker’s hard, rising shot in the 66th minute lifted Tunisia to a 2-1 triumph over Panama on Thursday night. It came 15 minutes after Khazri’s pinpoint square pass produced Fakhreddine Ben Youssef’s equalizer.
Tunisia's Wahbi Khazri celebrates after scoring his side's second goal

Panama had taken the lead in the 33rd minute through an own-goal when Jose Luis Rodriguez’s hard shot deflected off of a Tunisia player that sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Panama's Alberto Quintero, right, Jose Luis Rodriguez, center, and Anibal Godoy celebrate their side's opening goal

Both Group G teams were already eliminated going into the match. Tunisia hadn’t won a World Cup game since a 3-1 victory over Mexico in 1978. Tunisia’s victory was expected, looking more competitive in losses to England and Belgium than Panama, which was competing in its first World Cup. Tunisia also has more accomplished club professionals in its squad, but it was missing several players because of injuries.
In addition to dealing with the absence of defender Dylan Bronn, Tunisia had to start 33-year-old third-choice goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi because its other keepers were injured.
Panama held a 1-0 halftime lead after a goal set up in part by Seattle Sounders defender Roman Torres.
Fakhreddine Ben Youssef of Tunisia celebrates with teammate Ghaylen Chaaleli after scoring his team's first goal


His pass set up Rodriguez’s left-footed shot that deflected off Tunisia forward Yassine Meriah. It became the 50th own-goal in World Cup history when Meriah turned his body to block the shot and ended up sending it inside the far post after Mathlouthi had already started moving the other way, The goal came against the run of play. Tunisia dominated the match with 64-percent possession and finished with 15 shots to Panama’s nine. But it didn’t take long for Tunisia to equalize on what was somewhat of a World Cup milestone, the 2,500th goal in the history of the tournament, which dates to 1930.
The victory provided a measure of vindication for coach Nabil Maaloul, who led the team to the World Cup by infusing his lineups with younger players.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Arsene Wenger  the end of an era. Probably the greatest manager that managed the great team of Arsenal. Born in Strasbourg, France, Arsene Wenger makes his departure from the Emirates. he has a history of managing Monaco, Nancy, Nagoya grampus and finally Arsenal. His football career brought him 4 goals in total before his career of managing. Wenger will step down from his managerial role at Arsenal at the end of the season after 22 years in charge of the club. His last game takes in a trip to Huddersfield on Sunday (3pm) with Arsenal still looking for their first away point of 2018. Wenger has largely brought success to  Arsenal , winning three Premier Leagues as well as seven FA Cups. The Frenchman was also an integral part of the north London club’s move from their old Highbury ground to their new Emirates Stadium. But it’s the way Wenger has got his Arsenal players thinking that the 68-year-old wants to be mainly remembered for.                            
Post a Comment
Read more

Sweden brush aside Mexico to top table and seal progress to knock-out stages as Group F winners

Source:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/2018/06/27/mexico-vs-sweden-world-cup-2018-live-score-latest-updates Hundreds of Mexico supporters danced and cheered outside the South Korean embassy in Mexico City on Wednesday night, grateful that the Asian country’s victory over Germany guaranteed the national team a spot in the knockout stages of the World Cup. After Sweden beat Mexico 3-0 in Ekaterinburg, courtesy of second-half goals from Ludvig Augustinsson and Andreas Granqvist, plus an own goal from Edson Alvarez, Mexican fans were left praying that South Korea would deliver a sporting miracle in beating the reigning world champions. They delivered with a stunning 2-0 win which allowed Mexico to finish the group in second place. Despite their amazing victory, South Korea were eliminated. Bjoung-yin Han, consul general at the embassy, said: “There’s no distinction between Mexicans and Koreans today” and added that Mexican staff were crying with joy. Hundreds of Mexicans ce
Post a Comment
Read more