Olyroos Olympic campaign over
August 13th 2008 21:10
AUSTRALIA’S Olympic football campaign is over following a 1-0 defeat to Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on Wednesday night.
But it took the Africans 80 minutes to break the deadlock after the Olyroos’ defence withstood a series of marauding attacks by a side oozing athleticism and pace. Chelsea ace Salomon Kalou sent the African supporters into a frenzy when he capitalised on a superb pass from Gervinho, drilling a rasping shot into the top right-hand corner of the net.
The victory saw Cote D’Ivoire finish second in Group A behind gold-medal favourites Argentina, with the top two in each pool progressing to the quarter-finals.
Olyroos coach Graham Arnold made four changes to the starting line-up that lost 1-0 to defending champions Argentina on Sunday.
Striker Archie Thompson missed the game through a foot injury; with Mark Bridge and Nikita Rukavytsya leading the attack; while reserve Matt Simon was drafted into the squad as cover. Ruben Zadkovich was also ruled out of the match because of a groin strain. Defender Trent McClenahan and midfielder Kristian Sarkies replaced midfield duo Neil Kilkenny and James Troisi.
Australia’s best opportunities to score came either side of halftime. Rukavytsya forced an acrobatic save by Vincent Angban just shy of the break; while early in the second half Angban kept out a powerful free kick by Sarkies.
Kalou failed to break the stalemate when he shot over the bar twice in as many minutes, while Simon came on for Rukavytsya in the 73rd minute and had a shot stopped by Angban.
The loss was disappointing for Australian football but the team’s defensive effort was again superb. Arnold’s men conceded just three goals in three matches, a sterling effort superior to both Argentina and Cote D’Ivoire. But in the end an inability to score goals proved to be the difference and ultimately the Australians’ undoing.
But it took the Africans 80 minutes to break the deadlock after the Olyroos’ defence withstood a series of marauding attacks by a side oozing athleticism and pace. Chelsea ace Salomon Kalou sent the African supporters into a frenzy when he capitalised on a superb pass from Gervinho, drilling a rasping shot into the top right-hand corner of the net.
The victory saw Cote D’Ivoire finish second in Group A behind gold-medal favourites Argentina, with the top two in each pool progressing to the quarter-finals.
Olyroos coach Graham Arnold made four changes to the starting line-up that lost 1-0 to defending champions Argentina on Sunday.
Striker Archie Thompson missed the game through a foot injury; with Mark Bridge and Nikita Rukavytsya leading the attack; while reserve Matt Simon was drafted into the squad as cover. Ruben Zadkovich was also ruled out of the match because of a groin strain. Defender Trent McClenahan and midfielder Kristian Sarkies replaced midfield duo Neil Kilkenny and James Troisi.
Australia’s best opportunities to score came either side of halftime. Rukavytsya forced an acrobatic save by Vincent Angban just shy of the break; while early in the second half Angban kept out a powerful free kick by Sarkies.
Kalou failed to break the stalemate when he shot over the bar twice in as many minutes, while Simon came on for Rukavytsya in the 73rd minute and had a shot stopped by Angban.
The loss was disappointing for Australian football but the team’s defensive effort was again superb. Arnold’s men conceded just three goals in three matches, a sterling effort superior to both Argentina and Cote D’Ivoire. But in the end an inability to score goals proved to be the difference and ultimately the Australians’ undoing.
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