The semifinalists are here. The Netherlands will land against Australia while Germany take on England in the semifinals.
Korea defeated Netherlands 2-1 today in a pulstating match, but having already obtained 10 points in the four matches in the pool, Netherlands scrapped through on better goal difference. Korea also had ten points but two goals less on goal difference.
Korea thus would rue when they lost to New Zealand in the pool. Korea’s exit also marks the end of Asian challenge in the World Cup being staged in Asia.
Netherlands scored the fastest goal within 22 seconds from the start (thorugh Ronald Brouwer, but the Koreans, who defeated Netherlands in the opener in the last World Cup, came back strongly, and scored a goal apiece in each half.
Korea needed four goal difference to be in the semis, it was not to be.
Germany-New Zealand: Germany outwitted New Zealand in their last pool match, for a fluent and familiar 5-2 score. After Germany posted three goals without reply, New Zealand came alive with two goals in the space of four minutes midway through second half. The scoreline 3-2 promised a rich fare, but the alert Germans came out with two goals in two minutes in the 63rd and 64th minute enter the semis in a majestic fashion.
Christopher Minke started the scoring spree in the 15th minute, Florian Fuchs and Florian Woesch added a goal apiece before the half time.
Then came the brief come back by the Kiwis, goals coming from a pentlay corner in the 51st minute, Shea Mcaleese was the scores, three minutes later in a field manoeuvres, Nicholas Wilson added their last goal.
German scorers in the second half were Moritz Furste and the veteran Matthias Witthus
Canada Vs Argentina: Argentina posted an impressive 4-2 win over continental rival Canada in the last pool match of the world Cup. Argentina, in the process, scored the world cup’s latest goal also, Innocente’s goal going inside the net just a second left in the clock.
Argentina scored in the 29th, 43rd and 56th minutes thro’ Martin Vila, Matias Paredes and Mario Almada, and then the Canadians came back into the reckoning strongly, scoring two goals in the space of six minutes from 60th minute. First Scott Tupper and then David Jameson added the last goal of their team. Even as Argentina was to finish the day at that point, a one-handed fast run down by Martin Vila served on platter for the ultimate Player of the Day Mario Almada to score in the last second of 70th minute.