2002 FIFA World Cup (tm) Finals - Results & Fixtures - Russia vs Tunisia

5 Jun 2002


Russia	2 - 0	Tunisia
	(HT: 0 - 0)

Game Details
Venue Kobe Wing Stadium	Attendance 30957
Referee Peter Prendergast (JAM) Assistant Referees Michael Ragoonath (TRI) Paul Smith (NZL)

Game Events
#	Date	Player	Event	Period	Mins	H/A
1	5 Jun 2002	Igor Semshov	Yellow Card	First Half	27	H
2	5 Jun 2002	Igor Semshov	Player Out	Second Half	1	H
3	5 Jun 2002	Dmitri Khoklov	Substitute In	Second Half	1	H
4	5 Jun 2002	Hassen Gabsi	Yellow Card	Second Half	5	A
5	5 Jun 2002	Vladimir Beschastnykh	Player Out	Second Half	10	H
6	5 Jun 2002	Dmitry Sychyov	Substitute In	Second Half	10	H
7	5 Jun 2002	Yegor Titov	Goal	Second Half	14	H
8	5 Jun 2002	Valery Karpin	Goal (penalty)	Second Half	19	H
9	5 Jun 2002	Hassen Gabsi	Player Out	Second Half	22	A
10	5 Jun 2002	Zoubeir Baya	Substitute In	Second Half	22	A
11	5 Jun 2002	Adel Sellimi	Player Out	Second Half	22	A
12	5 Jun 2002	Imed Mhedhebi	Substitute In	Second Half	22	A
13	5 Jun 2002	Ziad Jaziri	Yellow Card	Second Half	30	A
14	5 Jun 2002	Marat Izmailov	Player Out	Second Half	33	H
15	5 Jun 2002	Dmitri Alenichev	Substitute In	Second Half	33	H
16	5 Jun 2002	Khaled Badra	Player Out	Second Half	39	A
17	5 Jun 2002	Ali Zitouni	Substitute In	Second Half	39	A
18	5 Jun 2002	Dmitri Alenichev	Yellow Card	Second Half	43	H

Match report

After slumbering through the opening period Russia stepped through the gears to beat Tunisia 2-0 to take early command of World Cup Group H. Both sides, playing their first match of the tournament, were looking for a win to take them above group rivals Japan and Belgium, who drew 2-2 on Tuesday. And it was the Russians who found a way through with two quickfire second-half goals from Egor Titov and Valery Karpin. Russia's last appearance in the second phase was 1986 but this win means that another three points at the expense of co-hosts Japan on Sunday in Yokohama will end that poor run. The first half comprised 45 minutes of the dullest football served up at the tournament so far. But a vastly-improved Russian performance in the second half ensured that this year's event has yet to produce a goalless draw after 15 matches, equalling the record start from USA 94. Titov finally broke the deadlock on the hour when Tunisian goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel, in a mad moment, threw the ball straight to substitute Dmitri Sychev, who chested the ball down for Titov to drive home. Titov had come the closest for the Russians with a low drive in the dying seconds of the half. But the 26-year-old Spartak Moscow midfielder deserved his stroke of luck as he netted his fifth international goal. Sychev, on for the ineffective Vladimir Beschastnykh, won a penalty four minutes later after colliding with Radhi Jaidi and Karpin sent Boumnijel the wrong way with the kick. The double blow caused Tunisian heads to drop and their frustration grew only greater when Ziad Jaziri picked up a yellow card for diving in the area with 15 minutes left.
Russian coach Oleg Romantsev said he would take the result - but wasn't keen on the performance.
"I have much to reprimand my players for. In defence we should not have allowed the Tunisians so many chances. And in attack we missed a stack of chances.
"But the first goal proved decisive," said Romantsev.
Karpin said the mid-afternoon heat made life difficult.
"The humidity during the match was tough to bear. Now I don't want to think about the next match - I just need a break."
Boumnijel rued his role in the opening goal.
"We conceded a silly goal thanks to an error on my part.
"Then we conceded a harsh penalty and didn't know how to react afterwards," he said.
Ironically the North Africans had made a bright enough start despite the Russians enjoying the lion's share of the possession. They almost took the lead when Yuri Nikiforov came close to putting through his own net in the 22nd minute attempting to prise the ball off two Tunisian strikers, the ball trickling just wide of Nigmatullin's right hand post. At the other end Marat Izmailov forced Boumnijel to make a smart save away to his left with a rising snapshot. Nifikorov tried to raise the level above the soporific with a speculative drive from distance but was way off target in the 38th minute. The Russians left playmaker Alexander Mostovoi and central defender Alexei Smertin on the bench as both had been doubtful beforehand with injury and coach Oleg Romantsev elected not to risk either of them. Russian president Vladimir Putin had seen the team off to Japan calling on them to make the country proud by reaching the second round playing quality football - and some finally surfaced once they had taken the lead.
The Tunisians, who crashed out in the opening phase at France 98, are playing in the event for only the third time, with the Russians making their ninth appearance - including those as the Soviet Union until 1990. The Carthage Eagles, whose starting line-up contained just four home-based players, were forced to leave defender Emir Mkademi on the bench as he also recovers from injury while fellow defender Jose Clayton was also not starting owing to a knee ligament problem.

(courtesy of dailysoccer)




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Page created by Christakis Ioannou on 5 June 2002 17:46:37.