Beckham Plans return to training in August

Houston: David Beckham might be back in training by the end of August, his LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said on Wednesday.

The England international tear his Achilles tendon in March and missed the World Cup in South Africa after undergoing surgery. "I can believe there's a chance he can begin training by the end of August," Arena told reporters following the MLS All-Star game against Beckham's first club Manchester United on Wednesday.

The MLS regular season finishes at the end of October but the Galaxy, who guide the Western Conference, are expected to be involved in the November play-offs that make a decision the title. Was too early on to say whether the 35-year-old could be involved in the playoffs, Arena added. "There's a possibility he could play towards the end of the MLS regular spell, but at this point in time it would be difficult to say yes or no."

Colombo test:India draw with Sri Lanka

Second Test, Colombo:

 

 

Captain Kumar Sangakkara made 42 not out to turn his side to safety, the hosts reaching 129-3 when the two teams decided to shake hands.India had finally been bowled out for 707 in their first innings close to the end of the morning session, giving them a fine first-innings lead of 65.

conversely they simply didn't have enough time to force a positive result, meaning Sri Lanka stay 1-0 up in the series with one Test to play.

India Keep stay the best in Tests:

 

India remain top of the International Cricket Council Test ratings next their draw in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. India are now 11 points clear of second-placed South Africa and will remain top of the rankings irrespective of the outcome in the third Test.

The ICC finished their annual update of the ratings which will now see India remain at the top of the table until the end of their current series which ends on August 7, when the ratings will again be updated.

Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag balanced India

Second Test, Colombo,(day three):

Sachin Tendulkar hit his 48th Test century and Virender Sehwag made 99 to boost up India's hopes of avoiding defeat in the second Test against Sri Lanka. India, chasing 642-4 declared, began well until Sehwag fell to Suraj Randiv, just one run withdrawn of a 21st Test ton.

Murali Vijay (58) and Rahul Dravid (3) were both out in quick sequence. But Tendulkar's stylish 108 not out in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 141 with debutant Suresh Raina (66*) helped India to 382-4 by close of play.

Scoreboard:

Sri Lanka 642-4 dec v India 382-4

Sachin Tendulkar* 108(181)

Suresh Raina* 66(133)

One major finally in hand, Creamer wants more

Paula Creamer still plays with bandage. What she no longer plays with is a weight.

Even though Creamer won't turn 24 until a week from Thursday, after she returns from Royal Birkdale and the final LPGA Tour major of this year, few other players so youthful have received so much inspection for failing to win a major.

At least that's one difficulty she won't face this week at the Women's British Open.
Paula Creamer of USA plays on the fifth hole through the third round of the Evian Masters women's golf tournament in Evian, eastern France, Saturday, July 24, 2010. Creamer still plays with a bandage, which proved easier than playing with a burden. The 23-year-old American no longer faces questions regarding when she will win a major.

World Badminton Championships 2011 coming soon

The 2011 BWF World Championships will take place in London, offering badminton fans a sneak preview of the world’s top players in the countdown to the 2012 London Olympic Games. Hosted by BADMINTON England, the BWF World Championships will be played at the world-famous Wembley Arena from 8 -14 August, 2011.

China is currently the most successful nation in the history of the World Championships with 49 titles since 1977 (excluding 2010), but the Chinese are expected to be pushed all the way by players from Denmark, Indonesia, Korea and Malaysia. They will be joined by players from the host nation who will be out to impress ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games. Top stars such as Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark will lead the charge in the men’s doubles, and rising talent like Rajiv Ouseph and Andrew Smith will be battling to make their mark on home soil.

England won one gold and two silver medals at the 2006 Championships in Madrid, Spain with Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms securing the gold medal and Anthony Clark becoming one of few players in the world ever to win two medals in the same World Championships. The BWF World Championships is an annual event except in the year of the Olympics and the 2010 edition will be played in Paris, France, in August.

Galle 2nd Test: Sangakkara & Paranavitana take SL as control

Captain Kumar Sangakkara and Tharanga Paranavitana struck their second successive centuries as Sri Lanka took firm control of the second cricket Test against India in Colombo on Monday. Sangakkara (130 not out) notched up his 23rd Test century while Paranavitana (100) scored his second ton as the Lankan batsmen piled up the agony on a listless India by reaching a commanding 312 for two at close on the opening day.

The Indians, who desperately need to win the match to level the three-match series and retain their number one position, put up a rather pathetic bowling display to allow the hosts to get off to a flying start. Mahela Jayawardene (13) was giving Sangakkara company at stumps as the hosts dominated on a very good batting track at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground.

Electing to bat, the two Lankan openers Tillakaratne Dilshan (54) and Paranavitana provided a rollicking start to the innings, capitalising on some wayward and insipid bowling by the Indians.The depleted Indian bowling attack, badly missing the services of pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, just did not ball in the right areas to pose much problems for the hosts who scored at a brisk pace right through the day.

The National Lottery's London 2012 Games Hot Air Balloon Takes Off

From the heart of the Olympic Park, The National Lottery today launched its London 2012 Games hot air balloon, which will embark on a nationwide tour this summer.

Lifting off at the Olympic Park, the hot air balloon took its first tethered flight with Olympic canoeing gold medallist, Tim Brabants, Olympic gymnastics bronze medallist, Louis Smith and Olympic 400m hurdles bronze medallist, Tasha Danvers onboard. The hot air balloon will visit cities throughout the UK, giving members of the public the chance to fly in the balloon, accompanied by elite athletes.
Over £25 million a week is raised by Lottery players for projects across the UK that make a real difference to people’s lives. The National Lottery is contributing up to £2.2 billion to fund the infrastructure and the venues for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and their legacy, as well as enabling around 1,400 talented British athletes to benefit from world-class coaching and support through UK Sport's World Class Performance Programme.

Peter Keen, Director of Performance at UK Sport, said: “Lottery funding has changed the face of sport in the UK and has contributed to a total of 438 Olympic and Paralympic medals for Great Britain since 1997. The hot air balloon tour is a great way for the public to meet local elite athletes, and for those athletes to be able to thank Lottery players for their support.”

Australia skid to fourth place in ICC Test rankings

Leeds: Australia has slipped to fourth place in the ICC rankings after drawing a Test series against Pakistan at England. Leeds defeat was Australian captain Ricky Ponting's first Test loss against Pakistan.The loss at leading, combined with Sri Lanka's crushing victory over India in the teams' first Test at Galle, has resulted in Australia shedding three ratings points and dropping from third in the Test rankings to fourth with 116 points, replaced by Sri Lanka, who moved from 115 points to 119.

Formula 1:Formula Fernando Alonso leads Ferrari one-two in German GP

Formula 1:Fernando Alonso controversially led a Ferrari one-two at the German Grand Prix after Felipe Massa appeared to be given the orders to let his team-mate past days.Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was 3rd at and his home Grand Prix at Hockenheim, 5.1 seconds adrift of the Spaniard. Mark Webber was 1st place off Button in sixth for Red Bull after engine problems.

Formula 1's governing body the FIA, state in Rule 39.1: "Team orders which has interfere with a race result are banned," and, after a post-race stewards inquiry, Ferrari were fined $100,000 for breaching sporting regulations.

muralitharan made unbeatable history

GALLE: One of the best but most hot spinners of his generation, Sri Lankan veteran Muttiah Muralitharan bid an emotional goodbye to his 18-year-old Test career on Thursday with an extraordinary tally of 800 wickets.

The 38-year-old bowler got the wonderful send off by guiding the Lankans to a 10-wicket victory over India in a match where he firmly etched his name in the pages of cricketing history by taking the required eight wickets to reach the 800-wicket mark.

Carrier Statistics:

• ODI Debut: vs India, On Aug 12, 1993
• Last ODI played: vs India, On Jun 24, 2010 at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Sri Lanka
• Test Debut: vs Australia, On Aug 28, 1992 at
• Last Test played: vs India, On Dec 2, 2009 at
• T20 Debut: vs New Zealand, On Dec 22, 2006 at
• Last T20 played: vs West Indies, On May 7, 2010 at Kensington Oval, West Indies
• Last IPL played: vs Mumbai Indians, On Apr 22, 2010 M at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, India

Tiger woods endorsements updown expected $22 million

NEW YORK : Tiger Woods estimated endorsements for 2010 are value $22 million less than last year, according to Sports Illustrated’s yearly analysis of the highest-earning American athletes.

Woods is still No. 1 on the list, as he has been for the rankings in seven years. But his estimated total earnings of more than $90 million are updown 30 percent from nearly $128 million two years ago.Rival Phil Mickelson is again No. 2 position with total earnings of more than $61 million. His estimated endorsement profits is $52 million, compared with $70 million for Woods.

Serena Williams heads short-term entry list at US Open

Three-time U.S. Open champion Serena Williams and four extra past winners start the provisional women’s field for the year’s last Grand Slam tournament. Ninety-nine of the top 100 women in this week’s WTA rankings were decided direct entry Wednesday into the U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 30. The missing one is No. 12 Justine Henin, a two-time Open champion, who withdrew after injuring her right elbow at Wimbledon.

Williams is improving from deep cuts to her right foot and pulled out of three future hard-court tuneups for the Open. Her status for the Open is not identified.The additional Open champions on Wednesday’s entry list are Williams’ older sister Venus, 2009 winner Kim Clijsters, Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

India look up to Dhoni, Laxman to save the match

Galle 1st test,Day 4: India were faced with a scary task of saving the first Test after spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan scalped six wickets in his last match to put Sri Lanka within sniffing space of a victory on Wednesday. Muralitharan claimed of 5/63 in the first innings and extra another wicket in the second to be just two short of the 800-mark as India were skittled out for 276 in their first innings in reply to the home team's total of 520/8 declared. Asked to follow on, the Indians were stressed at 181/5 at close on an exciting last but one day, still needing 63 runs to avoid the shame of an innings beat.

The visitors lost Gautam Gambhir (0) and first innings centurion Virender Sehwag (31) early on but the practiced duo of Rahul Dravid (44) and Sachin Tendulkar (84) steadied the innings to some amount with a 119-run partnership. India are hopeful that skipper MS Dhoni and VVS Laxman would bat long sufficient and heavens would do them a favour by opening up at the final day to save the first Test. The Opener Virender Sehwag, only Indian to score a century in this Test so far, said both Dhoni and Laxman can still spoil Sri Lanka's party. India, who finished the day at 181 for five, are still trailing by 63 runs and need to live three sessions tomorrow to save the opening match of the three-Test series.

SL: 520/8 in 124 ov
Ind: 276/10 in 65 ov & 181/5 in 59.3 ov

Sehwag shines but match in SriLanka control

Herath and Malinga twisted out to be the unlikely batting heroes as the islanders improved from a few early on jolts and had the visitors in problem by the end of the day by dismissing Gautam Gambhir (2), Rahul Dravid (18) and Sachin Tendulkar (8).Virender Sehwag (85), who played with his usual flamboyance, and VVS Laxman (18).

Lasith Malinga provided Sri Lanka with the early advance when he claimed the wicket of India opener Gambhir, who was attentive leg before wicket for two. Rahul Dravid was run out for 18 as he attempted an not possible second run, after having extra 66 runs in 72 balls for the second wicket with Virender Sehwag. Tendulkar, who made eight, tried to sweep a full delivery from Muralitharan but missed and was trapped leg before wicket as India were summary to 101 for three in 21 overs.

1st Innings
Srilanka
520/8 dec in 124.0 Overs
Run Rate: 4.19

India
140/3 in 29.4 Overs
Run Rate: 4.72

I could never plan against to murali

Sewhag:I will never miss facing Murali. He is the most difficult bowler who i played against. I am really happy that I don't have to face him over again, but at the same time I am upset he will not be around anymore in Test cricket. He was very difficult because I could never plan against to him. I would try to watch his hand, and if I might pick him, after i would play or else I would watch the ball directly to try to get an idea of the type of delivery he had bowled.

First time I faced him, in the tri-series in 2001, was a terrible because I could hardly pick any of his variations. At times he would spin it at right angles, making my job almost impossible. I tried to play him defensively and cash in against the other bowlers, because I was never relaxed against Murali.

India beat France 4-3 in the keenly-contested first hockey Test

Paris: Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh nonstop his red-hot form and struck twice as India beaten France 4-3 in the keenly-contested first hockey Test at the National Institute of Sport and Expert Performance (INSEP) in Paris. India strike goals through Sandeep, who changed two penalty corners in the 12th and 65th minute, Tushar Khandker (5th) and captain Rajpal Singh (69th), at the same time as Fredric Soyez scored a hat trick (6th, 51st and 68th) for France in the first game of the three-match series on Sunday.High on confidence after their 2-0 series win over Belgium in the last week, the Indians began forcefully and nearly took the lead in the third minute but for Dharamvir Singh, who fumbled inside the circle.

Overnight rains delays second day's start at Galle

An overnight rain delayed to start of the second day first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka here today. Heavy rains lashed Galle last night and made the entire ground outfield wet, which was more than enough for a delayed start for the second day.Even though there were no rains in the morning, wet outfield forced the covers to stay on at the Galle Stadium and according to the curator Jayananda Warnaweera, play can begin only after lunch. The opening day's play on Sunday was also delayed by 30 minutes due to wet ground.

The opening day's play in which only 68 overs were bowled, Sri Lanka were in a comfortable position at 256/2 with Tharanga Paranavitana unbeaten on 110 and Captain Kumar Sangakkara (103. In India bowlers anle to taken Abhimanyu Mithun (1/41) and Virender Sehwag (1/23) managing wickets.

Salman Butt named as a new Pakistan Test captain

Salman Butt has been named Pakistan's new Test captain for the remaining 4 Test matches against England after Shahid Afridi ruled himself out for the Headingley game citing a side strain. Afridi said, I worked out in the gym in the morning and I don't feel comfortable at all and I will not play the next Test. Salman Butt will take over as Pakistan captain after Shahid Afridi's retirement from Test cricket.Kamran Akmal will be selected a new vice captain. Afridi announced his decision on Friday, after Pakistan's 150-run loss to Australia at Lord's.

He will be lead the side in the second Test against Australia in Leeds and the following four Tests against England.

Argentina Give offer to Maradona new 4-year deal as a Coach

The Argentine Football Association declares it will offer Maradona a new four-year agreement that would keep him in charge of the national team through the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.The Spokesman for the association Ernesto Cherquis Bialo, told the media, Wednesday that AFA President Julio Grondona meet next week with Maradona to talk about the offer.This is the strongest indication that Maradona is likely to maintain as the coach. It comes two weeks later than Argentina was knocked out of the World Cup in a crushing 4-0 quarterfinals loss to Germany. Maradona has said small since then, keeping to himself in his home in suburban Buenos Aires.

Pakistan Need 440 to Win against Australia

First Test,3rd Day, Lord’s: Pakistan completed day three of the opening Test against Australia on 114/1 in their second innings having been set a target of 440. Pakistan must fabricate the best chase in the Test history to win its series-opening match against Australia at Lord's.The fourth-innings target blown up to 440 after Australia's 10th batsman Ben Hilfenhaus belived his unimpressive record at first-class level to finished unbeaten on 56, his maiden half-century. Tasmanian was part of the 52-run last-wicket partnership with Doug Bollinger, whose score of 21 was a personal best.

DAY-3 SESSION-3

Australia 253 (Katich 80) & 334 (Katich 83, Hilfenhaus 56no)

Pakistan 148 (Watson 5-40) & 114-1 (Salman But 58no)

MSDhoni's 42million USD!

A staggering Rs 210 crore (USD 42 million) approval contract puts skipper Dhoni ahead of even Tendulkar’s record. If popularity has a say in the luck one rakes in, this is the biggest example. And the figures prove that. According to Forbes, Dhoni was the world’s maximum paid cricketer last year, he earning USD 10 million, surpassing Sachin’s USD 8 million earnings. And now, when the just-married cricketer has signed a three-year-deal with Rhiti Sports managing. He was breaking his record of the Rs180 crore three-year-deal with sports management compact, Iconix.

Oh! God! Is that too much?

Is this is too much of an speculation for a cricketer. while Sachin signed an Rs 100 crore deal, many predicted the company’s impoverishment. But still now, what happened later was well, history. “When Sachin signed a 100 crore contract, people never even talked in terms of crores, they talk only in lakhs. Dhoni has so far come very closest to Sachin in this context. So now a days, when there are thousands of crores occupied in cricket, and the betting world deals in around Rs 5-6,000 crore, Rs 200 crore isn’t that big, really.

2010 FIFA World Cup :Adidas Golden Awards

ADIDAS GOLDEN BALL:DIEGO FORLAN

Diego Forlan has been named in the Best Player at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Uruguay striker topped the poll of accredited media representatives ahead of the Netherlands Wesley Sneijder and Spain hitman David Villa. The 31-year-old Forlan hit the starring role in his country’s heroic act at the FIFA World Cup finals.
ADIDAS GOLDEN BOOT: THOMAS MUELLER


Thomas Muller’s begining goal for Germany against Uruguay in the third-place play-off makes enough to earn the Bayern Munich starlet the adidas Golden Boot. Muller finished on five goals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, but claimed the top scorer thanks to no fewer than three assists, leaving him hit of Spain marksman David Villa and Dutch hitman Wesley Sneijder, both of as on five goals but with only one assist apiece.

ADIDAS GOLDEN CLOVES: CLOVE:IKER CASILLAS

The Spain Goal keeper has conceded just two goals at the South Africa 2010. Under struss after La Roja opened up with a shock hit to Switzerland, Casillas has since performed and acts his critics with a string of superb displays that have proved crucial to his Spain’s progress to a Final they have long dreamed about.

Spain Makes History Again

2010 FIFA World Cup Final: Iniesta Kick trashed Netherland's dreams.

The 19th FIFA world cup final, 2010 a single winning goal from Andres Iniesta that created history. Spain won their first FIFA World Cup defeating Netherlands by 1 goal in the 116th minute. Both Netherlands and Spain had not won any final till date. But Netherlands had appeared twice before in the finals, in 1974 and 1978. Spain reached their finals beating Portugal, Parague and Germany scoring 1-0 every time while Netherland hopes of Slovakia, Brazil and Uruguay in Round 16, quarter finals and semi finals respectively.

While score was 0-0 for the entire 90 minutes of the game and the first 15 minutes extra time as well with Spain having 57% ball possession and 18 shots with 8 of them on aim. Netherlands had 43% possession and 13 total shots with 5 on final target. The winning goal was shot by Iniesta in the second 15 minute extra time hardly 5 minutes after the Dutch were reduced to 10 players.Once again the German octopus Paul Allen's predictions make it true.

Germany Vs Uruguay Played for Third Place

2010 FIFA Worldcup SouthAfrica:The last chance for both Germany and Uruguay to satisfy their World Cup disappointment.

Germany and Uruguay will raise themselves for one last game Saturday for third place in the World Cup football at Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Germany will find it particularly difficult to motivate themselves after Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to European champions Spain consigned the Mannschaft to a second World Cup semi-final defeat in succession.

Octopus Paul says, Spain for 1st, Germany for 3rd

Germany: Again Octopus Choosen the country which won the Match

Spanish fans had reason to celebrate Friday after Paul the Octopus forecast that Spain will beat Netherlands to win their first World Cup on Sunday. The world glorious octopus at Aquarium Sea Life in Oberhausen, Germany, also forecast Germany would beat Uruguay in the title for third place on Saturday.
This Logic having already correctly predicted four Germany victories and two losses in this tournament.Two glass cubes were baited with mussels and mentioned with flags of Spain and Netherlands. Paul went directly to the Spanish tank and ate its mussel. Half an hour earlier, the octopus choose the mussel in Germany's tank over the confines of those marked with the Uruguay flag.

Nominees announced for adidas Golden Ball 2010

2010 FIFA World cup Southafrica -Best Player Nominees announced

The FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke and Adidas Group CEO Herbert Hainer today formally announced the 10 nominees for the 2010 FIFA World Cup adidas Golden Ball. In this adidas Golden Ball is the official FIFA trophy for the “Best Player of the Tournament”. Totally ten nominee players were selected by the FIFA Technical Study Group(TSG) and includes football experts such as Kalusha Bwalya, Christian Karembeu, Jomo Sono and Gerard Houllier.


2010 FIFA World Cup adidas Golden Ball trophy Nominees are:

Diego Forlan (URU, shirt #10) Asamoah Gyan (GHA, 3)
Andres Iniesta (ESP, 6) Lionel Messi (ARG, 10)
Mesut Oezil (GER, 8) Arjen Robben (NED, 11)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER, 7) Wesley Sneijder (NED, 10)
David Villa (ESP, 7), Xavi (ESP, 8)
The winners will be Properly announced after the final on 11 July.Spain's Villa, Xavi and Iniesta leads the race for Golden Ball nominees.


Worldcup adidas Golden Ball past winners:
1982 FIFA World Cup Spain: Paolo Rossi (Italy)
1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico: Diego Maradona (Argentina)
1990 FIFA World Cup Italy: Salvatore Schillaci (Italy)
1994 FIFA World Cup USA: Romario (Brazil)
1998 FIFA World Cup France: Ronaldo (Brazil
2002 FIFA World Cup Korea / Japan: Oliver Kahn (Germany)
2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: Zinedine Zidane (France)

Puyol Picked up Spain into the Final

2010 FIFA World cup Southafrica - Spain’s Victory is Germany’s pain — again

Spain Beat Germany 0:1 and Confirm their Final. Carles Puyol scored the game’s only goal in the 73rd minute, while he was left unharmed by the German defence and headed in a Xavi corner kick past German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.


Spain dominated control in the match at Moses Mabhida Stadium, in South Africa's coastal city of Durban. Spanish midfielders restricted the action from the starting whistle with quick and precise passes. But they had difficulty in finishing, until central attacker Carles Puyol broke a scoreless deadlock in the 73rd minute. Puyol, who plays for Barcelona, leaped high to head in a goal from Xavi 's corner kick.

Netherlands Beat Uruguay

2010 FIFA Worldcup: Match 61

Netherland reached their first World Cup final since 1978. when the current pick finally stepped out of the shade of Total Football to hit battling Uruguay 3-2 in a excellent semi-final on Tuesday. They will face either Germany or Spain, who assemble in Durban on Wednesday, in a showdown that now guarantees a first European World Cup triumph on a foreign continent.

2010 FIFA Worldcup: Upcoming Today Matches

Quarter-final opponents back in 2006, Argentina and Germany players are ready to cross swords again in Cape Town on Saturday. It is the place in the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa . Expectation is high in front of their latest battle, especially with both sides in such vibrant form and memories of Germany's tense penalty shoot-out triumph four years ago still fresh.

Venue:
Germany-Argentina,Cape Town, 3 July, 16.00

Paraguay-Spain, Johannesburg (Ellis Park), 3 July, 20.30

2010 FIFA Worldcup: Dutch struggle back buries Brazil

The Netherlands came from at the back to break Brazilian hearts and take a huge step towards a third FIFA World Cup 2010 final appearance. Trailing at half-time to Robinho's early goal in Port Elizabeth, Bert van Marwijk's men drew level through Felipe Melo's own goal previous to Wesley Sneijder headed the winner with 22 minutes remaining. Brazil finished the game a man short after Felipe Melo's dismissal as, like in Germany four years ago, the South Americans, victorious since last October, saw their dream of a sixth world crown dismantled at the quarter-final stage.

For the Dutch, this was their fifth instantly win at these finals and leaves them one victory short of a first Final appearance since they finished runners-up twice in the 1970s. They will journey to Tuesday's Cape Town semi-final against Uruguay as favourites despite the suspensions of Gregory van der Wiel and Nigel de Jong. History will also be on their side too, given the winners of their three previous FIFA World Cup meetings with Brazil marched on to the Final each time.

2010 FIFA Worldcup:Ghana give the penalty

Ghana became the final African team to say goodbye to the 2010 FIFA World Cup 2010, losing in a impressive penalty shoot-out to Uruguay after a 1-1 quarter-final draw at Johannesburg's Soccer City. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved efforts from Stephen Appiah and Dominic Adiyiah, before Sebastian Abreu improved the crucial spot-kick for the South Americans, who reach the last four for the first time since 1970.


The Black Stars will have to be satisfied with having become just the third side from the continent to make the quarter-final stage, although they could have won the match with the final kick of additional time after Luis Suarez handled a goal-bound effort on the line. But with Suarez sent off, their top scorer, Asamoah Gyan, destroyed a penalty off the bar that would have tipped the scales to the Africans after Sulley Muntari and Diego Forlan had scored either side of half-time.