15 June 2002, 16:35 Seoul - Tokyo

   GERMANY 1 : 0 PARAGUAY

It took a wonder volley from Oliver Neuville to break a game-long deadlock in the first match of the second round at the Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo. Germany became the first side to reach the quarter-finals where they will meet the winner of the Mexico - USA clash.

Germany put on most of the early pressure in a tight opening 45 minutes, but Paraguay created the best chances as Celso Ayala and Jorge Campos both forced German ‘keeper Oliver Kahn into nervous moments. The second half offered little more by way of attacking football as both sides sat back speculatively.

Match facts

After a scrappy opening, the first shot in anger came from Germany’s Michael Ballack. The Bayern Munich player, who passed a late fitness test, struck it well with the outside of his right foot but it flew high and wide from 25 metres (13’).

Germany continued to press, though without creating any clear cut openings, and it was Ballack again who struck a 25-metre free kick a foot over the bar following a clumsy foul by Julio Cesar Caceres on Marco Bode (19’).

Paraguay had their first chance from a long-range free kick. Francisco Arce, who has already proved in the tournament that he has a deadly shot, struck it with immense power forcing Oliver Kahn to punch it clear from under his own bar (22’).

Paraguay were dealt a heavy blow on the half hour mark as their young striker Roque Santa Cruz limped off with an injury.

But it forced Paraguay into their best period and they should have gone ahead shortly after. From inside Germany’s half, goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert launched a free kick high into the area. His opposite number Kahn punched clear to Jose Cardozo whose cross found Celso Ayala completely alone in the box, but the River Plate centre half snatched at the chance volleying well wide from 10 metres (36’).

Paraguay’s counter-attacks were looking more dangerous as the half wore on and Campos 20 metres from goal forced a spectacular save from Kahn with a scorching right foot drive (38’).

The second half kicked off with the best chance of the match. Oliver Neuville sprinted down the right and centred perfectly for Bernd Schneider whose shot from 10 metres was blocked well by Chilavert (47’).

But Paraguay hit back immediately. Substitute Campos again found himself in space down the inside left channel and from the edge of the box forced Kahn into another good save low to his right (50’).

Germany began to dominate possession without really threatening until Neuville popped up with a snap shot which had Chilavert diving to save by his left post (62’).

Another good run from the impressive Schneider cut open the Paraguayan defence for the first time. He laid the ball off to Frings on the right but instead of hitting it first time, he chose to cut inside onto his left foot and the ball flew over (68’).

With so few chances, the game looked likely to be settled by a set piece. It was all set for Paraguay’s keeper Chilavert but his free kick from 20 metres went a foot over (74’).

Just as the match seemed set to be going into extra-time, Schneider ran down the right and crossed perfectly for Neuville to half-volley home with superb timing past Chilavert for his first FIFA World Cup goal (1:0, 88’).

Source:  FIFAWorldCup.com

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