SPORTS 100621

Football and in the FIFA World Cup – Brazil have sailed through into the Round of 16 with a 3-1 win over the Ivory Coast in Soccer City in Johannesburg.

A brace from Luis Fabiano and a goal from Elano were enough to see the Samba Kings progress and become possible Group G winners.

Cheslea’s Didier Drogba managed to sneak in a consolation goal for the Ivorians 11 minutes from time; however the game was marred when Brazil’s Kaka was shown the red card in the dying minutes for a second bookable offence.

Elsewhere in Group F – 78th ranked New Zealand overcame all the odds to draw against World Champions Italy in Nelspruit.

The Kiwis took a shocking lead in the 7th minute through Shane Smeltz.

The lead only lasted 22 minutes when Daniel de Rossi was ajudged to have been fouled in the penalty box – and that paved the way for Iaquinta to equalise from the spot.

And over in Bloemfontein in the Free State Stadium – Paraguay took control of Group F with a convincing 2-nil win over Slovakia.

Enrique Vera and Cristian Riveros were on target fro the South Amercians.
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Looking ahead tonight – Group G concludes it’s second round group-action when Portugal will play North Korea in Cape Town at 7:30pm.

And in Group H – Chile will take on Switzerland in Port Elisabeth at 10pm; and European Champions Spain will play against Hondurus in Ellis Park in Johnnsburg at 2:30am.
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Finally in Golf and in the 110th US OPEN in Pebble Beach, California – Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell has won the tournament by finishing even par 284.

McDowell who wins by 1 storke also wins his first major after five US OPEN’s.

French golfer Gregory Harvet came in second at 1 over, and Ernie Els from South Africa came in third a further stroke behind.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were tied for fourth – 3 strokes behind the leader.
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