2006 FIFA World Cup Coverage

Argentina needs OT to eliminate Mexico

One of the favorites falls behind early but ties it soon after then gets a goal during the first extra session.

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 25, 2006

LEIPZIG, Germany - A blast of brilliance by Maxi Rodriguez separated Argentina from Mexico in Saturday's second-round game.

Argentina reached the quarterfinals with a 2-1 victory on Rodriguez's goal in the 98th minute, during the first overtime session,

Rodriguez chested a long, arcing pass from captain Juan Sorin at the right corner of the penalty area and, in almost the same motion, wheeled and volleyed a soaring left-footed shot to the far portion of the net. Keeper Oswaldo Sanchez had almost no chance.

"I had not decided to shoot it, but the ball fell right in front of me," Rodriguez said. "It's one of those shots that can go into the stands or in the goal."

The Argentines weren't too exhausted to celebrate, mobbing Rodriguez after his third goal of the tournament and biggest of his life. Still, Argentina had to stave off Mexico for another 22 minutes.

At the end, several Mexican players were crying. Mario Mendez kicked the turf at the center of the field, walking glumly for the sideline. Francisco Fonseca sat nearby, staring up into the stands. Behind him in the far corner, bare-chested Argentina players twirled their shirts in the air, some dropping to their knees to salute their fans and each other.

Next up for Argentina is Germany, whom it beat in the 1986 final but lost to in the 1990 final.

Until Rodriguez's winner, it was an almost even game. Rafeal Marquez put Argentina behind for the first time in the tournament. Pavel Pardo sent in a free kick from the right side, which Mendez headed across the goalmouth to a sliding Marquez. He knocked the ball over diving keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri.

Argentina tied it four minutes later. Juan Roman Riquelme curled in a corner from the right side, which Jared Borgetti appeared to head into his own goal as he lunged to beat Herman Crespo to the ball. The goal, however, was awarded to Crespo.

Mexico had bad luck in the 38th when Pavel Pardo, its dead-ball specialist, went off with a right thigh injury and was replaced by Gerardo Torrado.

And it lost Andres Guardado in the 64th when he limped off the field before being replaced by Gonzalo Pineda.

"Mexico was pushing for a goal, but that great shot eliminated us," Sanchez said. "There is nothing to feel bad about. Things are as they are, but I'm sad we are out."

Germany 2, Sweden 0

Lukas Podolski scored in the fourth and 12th for the host team in Munich.

Germany got off to a fast start. Michael Ballack passed to Miroslave Klose. The tournament's top scorer with four goals faked two defenders and cut inside. Keeper Andreas Isaksson made a diving save. But the ball bounced back to Podolski, who shot the ball off the head of defender Teddy Lucic and in.

"We wanted to go from the first minute. We wanted to get a goal," German coach Juergen Klinsmann said.

"I can't remember the last time Germany played such a (good) first 30 minutes. It was fantastic."

The second goal was prettier.

Klose took a pass just outside the box, drew three defenders and slipped a reverse pass into space for Podolski, who drove a left-footter past Isaksson.

Already outplayed, Sweden was left with 10 men when Brazilian referee Carlos Simon sent off Lucic in the 35th.

Lucic, booked earlier in the game, got into a tangle with Klose near the center and pulled his shirt.

Although the German did some tugging himself, Lucic got his second card.

The Germans didn't sit on their lead. Isaksson had to dive to his right to make a one-handed save on Ballack's shot from 20 yards, then Klose headed one just high.

"Germany got off to a really good start," said Sweden coach Lars Lagerback, whose team missed a penalty kick in the 53rd. "I don't want to speak about the referee, but he had some influence on the game. Maybe he did not stand up to the pressure.

"It's tough enough to play a team like Germany with 11 men, let alone with 10."

[Last modified June 25, 2006, 04:32:45]