Kewell jewel ends Croatia hopes

Liverpool FC midfielder Harry Kewell scored a 79th-minute equaliser as Australia twice came from behind to secure their progress to the FIFA World Cup knockout stages at the expense of Group F rivals Croatia, in a game that saw three players dismissed.

Australian resolve
Croatia needed a victory to give themselves any chance of progressing and got off to the best possible start when Darijo Srna fired in a stunning free-kick inside two minutes. But having come from behind to beat Japan 3-1 in their opening fixture, Australia showed similar resolve in Stuttgart as Vince Grella, Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell all tested goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa before a needless handball from Stjepan Tomas gave Craig Moore the chance to equalise from the penalty spot.

Late frenzy
The Newcastle United FC man kept his cool to send the Australian fans in raptures but they were silenced eleven minutes after the restart when Niko Kovač restored Croatia's advantage, his low drive bobbling over the despairing Zeljko Kalac. It looked like being a decisive error from the goalkeeper, one of seven members of the Australia squad of Croatian descent, before Kewell stole in at the back post to fire in from close range. It set up a frenetic finish as Dario Šimić, Brett Emerton and Josip Šimunić all saw red as Guus Hiddink's side held on to book a last 16 encounter with Italy.