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World Cup Update: England 1-0 Argentina, Lions conquer Gauchos in pressure-cooker match; Spain 3-1 Paraguay; what goes around comes around for Chilavert; Sweden 2-1 Nigeria; Larson brace leads Swedes to victory, Nigerians eliminated, and more…
June 8, 2002 - STM Staff

England 1-0 Argentina
Sapporo, Japan

Sapporo - The match we had all been waiting for since the draw is now history. England have exercised some big-time World Cup demons with a 1-0 win over an uninspired Argentina side in front of a packed house in Sapporo.

English captain David Beckham scored form the penalty spot in the 44th minute after English forward Michael Owen was brought down in the box by Argentine defender Porchentino. Becks did well from the spot, sending a squirrelly shot straight down the middle of the goal as the Argentine goalkeeper just looked on.

Owen was definitely the game's best player and seemingly turned on the Argentina defenders with ease. He rang the post on one occasion and almost scored the goal of the tournament when he beat multiple defenders and laced a shot just wide of the far post with a right-footed shot from the inside the box.

The game was free of the expected antics from Beckham and Argentine midfielder Simeone. Although the Argentines dished out the usually abuse and gamesmanship, it was the English who kept their cool and defended a slim 1-0 goal lead for the entire second-half. -- Sven's men now share the lead in Group F play with Sweden who beat Nigeria 2-1, a loss that effectively eliminates the Nigerians from the World Cup. England (1-0-1) is poised to qualify for the second round but all will come down to a huge match against Nigeria on Wednesday in Osaka Japan. Argentina are now on the outside looking in with a 1-1-0 record. They must beat Sweden on Wednesday to qualify for the knockout stage.

Spain 3-1 Paraguay
Jeonju, South Korea

Jeonju - If you are going to talk the talk, then you have better walk the walk. Obviously, Paraguayan goalkeeper Luis Chilavert has never learned that lesson. After bragging that he would score two goals against Spain, that Spain was mediocre, and that Spanish goalkeeper Casillas who poor, the Paraguayans lost to Spain 3-1 ensuring a tip to the knockout stagers for Spain, and a desperation third match for Paraguay.

Truth be told, Chilavert should have never even played in the game after his suspension was severely reduced by FIFA. The goalkeeper spit in Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos' face in a COMNEBOL qualification match for World Cup and was suspended until this match. His suspension should have has him out of football for at least the group stages, but FIFA uncharacteristically went easy on him. With Blatter recently running for election and winning, one has to wonder if Paraguay gave votes to Blatter in exchange for a lighter sentence on Chilavert.

Spain were gifted a goal in the 9th minute of play when a Paraguayan defender accidentally redirected the all into his own goal to give the give the Spanish a 1-0 lead. Real Madrid midfielder/forward Morientes scored in the 59th minute and Hierro added a third from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute to put the game on ice.

The Spanish ended a 55-year opening round jinx by beating Slovenia on Sunday in their opener. Paraguay must beat Slovenia in their next match if they are to qualify for the second round after a 2-2 opener draw with South Africa who beat Slovenia 1-0 on their second game.

Sweden 2-1 Nigeria
Kobe, Japan

Kobe - The Nigerian's have made an early exit from the 2002 World Cup despite high hopes by the nation and soccer fans the worldwide. Northern European workhorses Sweden beat Nigeria 2-1 in Kobe to set-up a mouth watering third game group play match for all four teams in the Group of Death - Group F.

Celtic forward Henrik Larsson scored a brace to lead the tiny nation to its first victory in the 2002 World Cup. The goals were Larsson's first in World CUP play since USA 1994.

Nigeria got on the board first when Aghahowa scored in the 27th minute against the run of play. Sweden answered in the 35th minute when Larsson put together a piece of magic, dribbling three players, and toe-poking the ball past the Nigerian goalkeeper.

Larsson scored the game-winner from the penalty spot after being brought down in the box by Ifeanyi Udeze in the box. Nigerian goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu got a finger to the ball, but the power, placement, and pace of Larsson's shot were too much for any netminder to control.

Sweden will ply Argentina on Wednesday, is tied with England for first place in Group F. Nigeria are now officially eliminated form the cup, but manager Adegboye Onigbinde has promised his side will England a run for their money in the final match of Group F play also on Wednesday.

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