Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Empty-handed

GERMANY 1, U.S. 0: Oliver Kahn makes big saves (and gets some help) to earn the shutout.

Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 22, 2002

ULSAN, South Korea -- Less than an inch.

That's how close the United States was from tying Friday's World Cup quarterfinal against Germany.

Claudio Reyna took a corner kick in the 49th minute, and Gregg Berhalter sent a 6-yard shot toward the net. Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn dived to his right, and the ball bounced off him and started to cross the line.

But the ball hit the left arm of defender Torsten Frings, appearing on replays never to fully cross the line. It bounced back, Kahn pounced on it and the chance was over.

It was one of many breathtaking saves for Kahn, who was the primary reason Germany still was alive entering Friday's match.

And the captain protected Germany's 1-0 victory against the United States, putting the three-time champions into the semifinals for the 10th time.

"He stopped some big shots," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said. "He had a couple of great saves. In a game like this, it made all the difference. Give him credit. He was outstanding."

German coach Rudi Voeller couldn't have agreed more.

"He saved our life several times in the first half," he said.

"It was clear to us from the beginning that if we wanted to get far in the tournament, we could only do it with a good Kahn in the goal."

Kahn's first big save came in the 17th minute, when he had to dive low to his right to tip away a powerful, low shot by Landon Donovan from the edge of the penalty area.

In the 30th minute, Donovan, playing up front instead of his normal midfield position, made a long run through the middle and found himself one on one with Kahn, but the keeper made the save again.

Six minutes later, Kahn denied Eddie Lewis, who struck a powerful shot from the edge of the box.

When the match was over, Kahn lay on his back for a long time.

"Such a game is so tense, it puts so much pressure on a goalkeeper," Kahn said. "It's tough on your nerves. The pressure is enormous.

"The Americans more than tested us. They threw everything at us. They had so much power and fight in them, and they had two days of rest less than us. They were in incredible condition."

Kahn celebrated his 33rd birthday and made three key saves in a 1-0 second-round victory over Paraguay on June15. Against the Americans, Kahn made his 50th international appearance.

Despite his stellar play, Kahn refused to take all of the credit for the semifinal berth.

"You try to do everything possible," he said. "But the guys in front of me, they do their part as well, and they have been fighting very hard."

There was something inevitable about the goal Germany scored in the 39th minute. With nine of its 11 starters 6 feet or taller, it seemed likely it would strike first and through the air.

Lewis committed a foul that led to a free kick by Christian Ziege. He lofted a perfect ball to 6-3 Michael Ballack, who outleaped the Americans and headed it in.

"I thought I was going to be able to head it away," the United States' Tony Sanneh said. "I didn't jump high enough or get back enough. That's why we're going home and they're playing."

With the one-goal lead, the Germans defended and turned it over to Kahn.

Berhalter's shot in the 49th minute came so close that cheers erupted, many believing the Americans had tied it. But the shot ricocheted off the forearm of Frings, and a handball, which would have resulted in a penalty kick, was not called.

"I don't want to be a sore loser," Berhalter said. "But that was a clear handball, and the referee should have given him a red card."

Not since the first World Cup in 1930 had the Americans done as well as they did this year. Back then, it was an invitation-only tournament for 13 teams, and the United States won two games then lost to Argentina 6-1 in the semifinals.

"I think we demonstrated to the world that the United States belonged here," Arena said. "We expected to be the best team (Friday). We weren't surprised at our performance."

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright