Colombia went into this match without Asprilla, who was sent home for
criticising the coach on radio.
Valderrama seemed to play too deep and perhaps the Colombians could
have troubled the Tunisians more if 'the hair' took the play to them more.
Both teams had close chances, with an almost freak goal looking the
most interesting. Chokri el-Oauer punched out, and the ball rebounded off the back of
Bouazizi. What an own goal that would have been.
Half-time: (0:0).
In the second half, Ben Slimane had the best chances for Tunisia but
it was not to be their day.
Instead, it was the Colombian substitute, Preciado, who received the
ball from Valderrama, in the 83rd minute, and beat off two defenders; to set up an
important contest with England on the 26th June.
The late Colombian goal puts pressure on England in the last game. A
draw will do for England, but they will need to win to boost confidence again, after a
last minute winner by Romania denied them of a point.
A frustrating first half; almost as monotonous as the
England fans singing: De de, de de de, de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de-de, England!
On the quarter hour, Darren Anderton crossed in for
Sheringham. Tony Adams came close to his shot from the hip; but not close enough.
Ilie stunned Seaman, on the 27th minute, with a chip that
skimmed off the front of the bar.
Shearer came deep a plenty to bring himself into the
game, and England seemed content not to concede a goal. Caution was the name of the game.
Just after the half-hour, Hoddle went through the notes
with Beckham and sent the Spice Boy on for Paul Ince.
Half-time: (0:0).
Two minutes into the second-half. A throw-in for Romania,
in line with the England area. Hagi receives it and chips the ball over Sol Campbell;
Moldovan chests it past Tony Adams and fires past Seaman.
Ten minutes after coming on for the lacklustre
Sheringham, Michael Owen becomes the youngest English goalscorer in the World Cup finals.
Petrescu dampened his glory with a bustled goal between
his defender and David Seaman on the last minute of normal time.
The young Michael Owen almost equalised again in injury
time, hitting the post with a low diagonal shot through three defenders.
Surely he must start against Colombia and let the old
boys worry about his hunger for further World Cup goals.
