Spain Gets Lucky In PK Shootout

(Sunday, June 16, 2002) - Spain defeated a gutsy Ireland squad in the first penalty shootout of the 2002 World Cup on Sunday after the second round game had ended 1-1 after extra time in Suwon, South Korea. The winners now play either co-hosts South Korea or Italy next Saturday for a place in the semi-finals.

Matt Holland, David Connolly and Kevin Kilbane failed with their spot kicks, with Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas saving two of them, before Gaizka Mendieta stepped up to put Spain into the last eight. Spain won the shootout 3-2.

Juanfran and Juan Carlos Valeron failed to score their penalties for Spain, who played extra time with 10 men after midfielder David Albelda left the pitch with a groin injury.

"To save penalties is all about luck," said 21-year-old Casillas, who saved one penalty during normal time. "It would have been unfair for us to got out after they equalised with a penalty in the last minute," he added.

Spanish forward Fernando Morientes celebrates after putting his team up 1-0.

Irish coach Mick McCarthy was devastated but proud of his team after the penalty shootout, which the Irish squad watched with linked arms.

"I'm very proud -- we didn't deserve to lose in the end, we deserved to win in normal win. Sickening," he said, but he added: "There are no recriminations, we've had a wonderful, wonderful World Cup."

The Spanish, trying to shake off a reputation as World Cup underachievers, looked to have sealed a place in the last eight for the first time since the 1994 finals thanks to an eighth minute goal from striker Fernando Morientes.

But Ireland, masters of the last-gasp comeback, drew level in the final minute of normal time when Swedish referee Anders Frisk awarded a penalty after Spanish captain Fernando Hierro pulled the shirt of substitute Niall Quinn in the area.

After this Fernando Morientes header staked Spain out to a 1-0 lead, Spain made the mistake of packing it in against Ireland.

Striker Robbie Keane, who scored in the dying seconds against Germany in the first round, scored from the spot to send the game into golden-goal extra time -- hours after Senegal reached the last eight with only the second golden goal of World Cup history.

Casillas had earlier saved a penalty from Ian Harte in the 63rd minute after a foul in the area by defender Juanfran on winger Damien Duff, who was a constant thorn in the side of the Spanish.

Ireland, whose World Cup campaign suffered a serious setback before the tournament when they lost their best player Roy Keane after a bitter row with McCarthy, tested the Spanish until the final whistle.

Spain made the perfect start with the early goal from Morientes. Right back Carles Puyol sent in a crisp cross from the right and Morientes brushed off his marker Gary Breen to score with a glancing header past lreland goalkeeper Shay Given.

Ireland's Damien Duff was the most dangerous player in attack, with his dribbling runs bringing about a PK for the Irish.

The Spanish had the ball in the net again in the 25th minute when Luis Enrique poked home after a clever move involving Raul and Morientes but the goal was disallowed because of offside.

Keane's pace was a constant danger to the Spanish and two minutes before halftime his overhead kick went just over the bar.

Spain played the more attractive football, however. Morientes had a chance to give Spain a 2-0 lead just two minutes into the second half but Given managed to block his shot from just inside the box.

The Spanish desperately needed a second to make the game safe as Ireland kept threatening their defence, which has looked shaky at times during the tournament. In the 51st minute, defender Hierro had to clear the ball off the line after striker Kilbane pounced to shoot after Casillas dropped a cross.

Then Ireland missed a perfect chance to get back into the game in the 62nd minute when Juanfran brought down Duff.

Harte struck the spot kick hard but too close to Casillas diving to his right and Kilbane failed to hit the rebound into a gaping net.

Gary Kelly and Spain's Juan Fran battle it out in a tense battle which produced little few goalmouth situations.

Duff almost grabbed an equaliser in the 80th minute with a wonderful run on the right which he finished with a long-range shot which just went past Casillas's right-hand post. In the 84th minute, Casillas saved the day again, bravely blocking an acrobatic close-range effort from Keane, who broke clear in the box.

Spain, having used all their three substitutes, played extra time with 10 men after Albelda stayed off after aggravating a groin strain.

Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho brought in Ivan Helguera to replace Miguel Angel Nadal at centerback. The 35-year-old Nadal played in all three of Spain's Group B games but with Ireland expected to play a counter-attacking game Camacho opted for the quicker Helguera to partner Fernando Hierro.

With Diego Tristan on his way back from groin and ankle injuries, Fernando Morientes was named alongside Raul in attack.

Ireland was unchanged from the victory over Saudi Arabia that booked its place in the second round, with Robbie Keane and Damien Duff resuming their partnership up front.

Scoring Summary:
Spain -- Fernando Morientes 8
Ireland -- Robbie Keane (PK) 90

Lineups:

Spain: 1-Iker Casillas; 5-Carles Puyol, 6-Fernando Hierro, 4-Ivan Helguera, 3-Juanfran; 21-Luis Enrique, 8-Ruben Baraja, 17-Juan Carlos Valeron, 11-Javi de Pedro (16-Gaizka Mendieta 66); 7-Raul (12-Albert Luque 80), 9-Fernando Morientes (14-David Albelda 71)

Ireland: 1-Shay Given; 2-Steve Finnan, 14-Gary Breen, 5-Steve Staunton (4-Kenny Cunningham 50), 3-Ian Harte (13-David Connolly 82); 18-Gary Kelly (17-Niall Quinn 55), 8-Matt Holland, 12-Mark Kinsella, 11-Kevin Kilbane; 9-Damien Duff, 10-Robbie Keane

Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden)