WORLD CUP NEWS

World Cup Results: Mexico 1-1- Italy; Both nations advance to second round; Brazil 5-2 Costa Rica, Samba attack firing on all cylinders; Ecuador 1-0 Croatia, Debutantes go home with win; Turkey 3-0 China; Sas leads Turks into second round, and more… June 14, 2002 - STM Staff

Mexico 1-1- Italy
Oita, Japan

Mexico led Italy 1-0 until the 85th minute when Juventus forward Alessandro Del Piero scored a crucial tying goal via header to ensure a spot in the second round for the Auzuirre.

Mexico played a strong defensive game led by Rafael Marquez, and kept their composure against an Italian squad desperate to qualify.

Forward Jared Borgetti put Los Tri-Colores ahead in the 34thminute when he looped a header over the Italian goalkeeper on across form the left side from Blanco. The goal was his second of the tournament. Numerous clubs have had their eyes on Borgetti since the tournament began and don't be surprised to see him making a trip to Europe after the World Cup ends.

Mexico will no face the United States in a mouth-watering Round of 16 match-up between the long-time CONCACAF rivals. The U.S. beat Mexico in their last encounter, but that maters little now. The United States will have their hands full with a determined Mexican side that sees a clear path to the quarterfinals.

Mexico qualifies as winners of Group G with Italy placed second, and will face co-host South Korea in the Round of 16.

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Brazil 5-2 China
Suwon, South Korea

After a dismal qualification campaign that saw the Samba Boys qualify for the World Cup in the final match, Brazil has turned the corner, but don't ask head man Big Phil.

The Brazilian coach has been quick to counter that his team is not favorites to win the World Cup despite going 3-0-0 in group play, scoring 11 goals in the process.

Brazil took control of the match early, applying loads of pressure on the Tico back line led by former Earthquake Mauricio Wright. Ronaldo scored an own goal in the 10th minute and then scored one of his own three minutes later. Edmilson scored on a glorious scissor-kick volley in the 38thminute to put Brazil up 3-0. Manchester City forward Paulo Wanchope scored in the 39th minute giving the Ticos a glimmer of hope.

Credit to Costa Rica played for the win rather than a tie. The Ticos threw everything forward after break and were rewarded with a goal by Ronald Gomez 11 minutes into the second half.

Brazil again showed why they still one of the most feared teams on the planet, scoring two unanswered goals by Barcelona midfielder Rivaldo and Junior. -- Brazil advanced quite easily out of Group C, which was arguably one of top two weakest group in the tournament.

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Ecuador 1-0 China
Yokohama, Japan

World Cup debutantes Ecuador can fly home with some satisfaction after beating Croatia 1-0 in their last World Cup match. Both nations are eliminated from the cup, but have rather different experiences.

Ecuador went 1-2-0, scoring two goals and letting in four. Each nation will take home a bevy of lessons from this World Cup.

Croatia, semi- finalists in France 98', but were simply too old and uninventive to repeat what has to be the greatest ever run for the Croatian national team.

Ecuador's Edison Mendez scored in the 48th minute to give the South Americans a slim 1-0 goal lead against Croatia.

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Turkey 3-0 China
Seoul, South Korea

Turkey qualified for the second round and in the process knocked-out Ecuador with a 3-0 win over China in the final match of group play for both nations.

Turkey need some help from Brazil through to make into the second round. They need Brazil to beat Costa Rica by a large margin.

Hassan Sas and Bulent Korkmaz scored in the first nine minutes of the match to give the Turks a commanding 2-nil lead. Umit Davala added a third in the 85th minute in a completely lopsided affair in Seoul.

Turkey out shot the Chinese 16 to 6, in a very physical affair with the teams combing for 41 fouls. -- China simply got hammered in each other their three group matches. They allowed nine goals in, went 0-0-3, and couldn't manage to score a single goal.

After the match, China head Coach Bora announced that he would resign from his post as the national coach of China and seek to take a sixth team into the 2006 World Cup to be held in Germany.

Turkey have qualified for the second round as second place finishers in Group C, going 1-1-1 in group play, scoring 5 goals and letting in three.