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LAST 8 REVIEW
USA 0-1 GERMANY
 GERMANY have done it again.
Past masters at undeservedly grinding out dull 1-0 wins, Rudi
Voller's team today undeservedly ground out a dull 1-0
over the USA to saunter into the semi-finals of the World
Cup.The USA were the better team throughout and were desperately unlucky not to take something from the game. Oliver Kahn twice denied Landon Donovan in the first half - pulling off two great saves as the 20-year-old forward ran the German backline ragged. But Germany took the lead when Christian Ziege's excellent free-kick from the right found Michael Ballack - who rose highest to crash home a header from point-blank range that bounced underneath the unlucky Brad Friedel. The USA continued to press after the break - and thought they'd scored when Gregg Berhalter's close range volley seemingly travelled over the line before being handled by Thorsten Frings. Referee Hugh Dallas summed up the Americans' luck by awarding a goal-kick, and not a goal, penalty or even a sending-off. Germany still offered nothing in return and were almost embarrased when Claudio Reyna's 50-yard first-time lob sailed narrowly wide, before defender Tony Sanneh twice came close with headers in the final few minutes. Substitute Oliver Bierhoff was clean through in injury-time and should have made it 2-0, but amusingly dallied and was easily dispossessed by man-of-the-match Reyna. |