Germany 1 - Paraguay 0
Neuville (88)  


Germany progressed to the Quarter Finals with a less than convincing victory over Paraguay in an unspectacular match in Jeju. Oliver Neuville was the match winner with a strike two minutes form full time. The Germans are now looking well placed to stage a challenge for the title that looked out of their grasp prior to the tournament.

More good news for the next tournament hosts was the return to fitness of Michael Ballack who had two early attempts, which went wide, from a header and a free-kick. Paraguay’s Denis Caniza then fired wide of the left-hand post before Francisco Arce’s shot needed birthday boy Oliver Kahn’s punch to safety.

An injury to Roque Santa Cruz dented Paraguay’s attacking menace, with Jorge Campos replacing him after half an hour. Paraguay continued to create the better chances however and Celso Ayala squandered by far the best opening so far when, totally unmarked, he volleyed wide from Jose Cardozo's right-wing cross. Kahn then produced a good one-handed save to push Campos' right-foot drive over for a corner.

Bernd Schneider should have done better from a chance in the opening minutes of the second half when he shot straight into the grateful arms of Jose Luis Chilavert. Neuville briefly brightened up the dull proceedings with a swerving right-foot drive from outside the area, which Chilavert clasped in his shovel-like hands.

The thought of extra-time and penalties wasn't a pleasant one given the excitement level so far, then with two minutes remaining everyone was put out of their misery by Neuville’s goal. Schneider broke down the right and crossed to the edge of the six-yard box where Neuville cracked the ball home on the half volley.

To complete Paraguay's woe, Roberto Acuna was sent off in stoppage time for lashing out with his elbow.

 

Sweden 1 - Senegal 2
Larsson (11) H. Camara (38, 104)

(After Extra Time)


Senegal became only the second African nation to reach the quarter-finals in the intense heat and humidity of Oita. Henri Camara was the Senegalese hero with two goals, one of which was golden!

Sweden without Freddie Ljungberg took an early lead. Tony Sylva had already made one fine save from Olof Mellberg's flashing drive, but was at fault for the goal in the 11th minute. The goalkeeper came to meet midfielder Anders Svensson's inswinging corner, but was easily beaten to the punch by the head of Larsson, with the ball evading the attention of captain Aliou Cisse on the line.

The Swedes, who had been struggling to cope with the heat, were picked off as Camara brought the Senegalese level eight minutes before the break. The ball went from chest, to foot and then was planted confidently past Magnus Hedman in the Swedish goal.

The African fans should have been in full cry again soon after, only for Camara to glance a free header wide from an Amdy Faye cross as Sweden's defence was left exposed. Anders Svensson then brilliantly curled a 25-yarder round the wall, but with the ball heading for the top left-hand corner, Sylva pulled off a superb save.

Chances proved to be at a premium after the break, with those that did occur criminally wasted as Anders Svensson, Pape Thiaw and Andreas Andersson all blazed wide when well placed.

Sylva and Hedman were at least called upon to make one superb save apiece. The Senegalese goalkeeper beat away a crisp shot from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hedman plucked a top left corner-bound free-kick out of the air from Pape Bouba Diop.

The World Cup then witnessed its first period of extra time, and it was Sweden who came close at first with Anders Svensson hitting the outside of the post with a 15-yard right-foot shot following a delightful piece of skill.

But then came Senegal's moment just over a minute before the break as a Thiaw backheel found Camara, who first beat Jakobsson and then Mjallby before delivering a fine finish past Hedman.

With a quarter-final clash against either co-hosts Japan or Turkey beckoning, there is every chance they could become the first team from their continent to go on and claim a place in the semi-finals.

 

Spain 1 -  Ireland 1    
Morientes (8) Keane (90)
(AET - 3-2 on penalties)

Ireland's brave World Cup adventure ended in heartbreak as they were knocked out in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. Misses from the spot from Matt Holland, David Connolly and Kevin Kilbane proved costly after the Irish again fought back from a goal down.

Spain had looked slick as they came out of the traps flying and their pace and movement immediately had Ireland on the back foot, and they found themselves a goal down before they had settled. Luis Enrique delivered a teasing cross into the six-yard box, where Morientes got in ahead of Gary Breen and guided a header inside the far post.

Ireland never really tested Spain goalkeeper Casillas in the first half and then Spain should have doubled their lead within 90 seconds of the restart when Raul's trickery on the edge of the box created an opening for Morientes, but Given made a great block with his body.

Ireland were forced to swap the injured Steve Staunton with Kenny Cunningham only minutes in to the second period. When play restarted, Casillas dropped Harte's cross at the feet of Kilbane, but his shot was cleared off the line by Fernando Hierro.

Niall Quinn was introduced in the 55th minute as expected. It made all the difference as Duff cut in from the wing and won the penalty which should have seen Ireland draw level. Leeds defender Ian Harte stepped up but hit a poor penalty down the centre of the goal and Casillas beat the ball away. Kevin Kilbane followed up but screwed the rebound wide of the left post.

Things nearly got worse for the Irish after 71 minutes as the defence failed to clear a bouncing ball and Given stuck out his right boot to block Raul's close range effort. Duff then came into his own again and after 79 minutes he again cut in from the right and drilled a low shot just wide of the far post.

Referee Anders Frisk awarded Ireland their second penalty in the last minute when Niall Quinn found Spain skipper Fernando Hierro climbing all over him, and Keane stepped up to bury it in the bottom left corner.

Amazingly, Spain had to play extra time with only 10 men because Abelda was injured and all three substitutions had already been made by coach Jose Antonio Camacho. It was hearts-in-the-mouth stuff as Ireland dominated extra time. Quinn's nod-down to Keane in the third minute of the second period saw the Leeds striker fire wide from the edge of the box. Three minutes later Given had to push away Baraja's shot, and when Ireland hit back on the counter Connolly shot wide.

With no breakthrough it was down to penalties and it was eventually left to Lazio star Gaizka Mendieta to slide home the decisive penalty.