Team GB suffer shoot-out disappointment
Saturday, August 4, 2012
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Europe's last contenders, Great Britain, were eliminated on penalties by South Korea in the last eight of the Olympic men's football tournament, while Brazil, Japan and Mexico progressed.
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Europe are without a representative in the semi-finals of the Olympic men's football tournament after South Korea eliminated Great Britain on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Sunderland AFC forward Ji-Dong Won (29) put Korea ahead with a strike which deceived goalkeeper Jack Butland, but Stuart Pearce's team equalised seven minutes later when Aaron Ramsey converted from the spot.
However, the Arsenal FC man then had a penalty saved by Jung Sung-Ryong moments later and with the second half and extra time goalless, the hosts' fate was decided by a shoot-out. Both sides expertly converted their first four kicks, before substitute keeper Lee Beom-Young denied Daniel Sturridge. Celtic FC's Ki-Sung Yueng kept his cool to send Korea into the last four.
They will meet Brazil, now two matches away from winning Olympic gold for the first time. Mano Menezes' charges overcame Honduras, who had Wilmer Crisanto (33) and Roger Espinoza (90) sent off in a 3-2 defeat in Newcastle.
After Mario Martínez had given Honduras the lead, Leandro Damião (38) and Neymar, with a penalty, scored either side of Espinoza's 48th-minute effort. Damião (60) rounded off the scoring when he spun and finished Neymar's pass from ten metres.
Japan also hit three, beating Egypt 3-0 at Old Trafford. Kensuke Nagai (14) broke the deadlock and things worsened for their opponents when Saad Samir (41) was shown a straight red card. It took Japan until the last 12 minutes to make their numerical advantage count, adding to their tally through captain Maya Yoshida and Yuki Otsu.
Mexico block Japan's path to the final after Luis Fernando Tena's team survived an impressive comeback from Senegal to triumph 4-2 at Wembley. El Tri were 2-0 up with 21 minutes remaining, thanks to Jorge Enríquez's flicked header (10) and Javier Aquino's opportunistic finish (62), but Moussa Konate's fifth goal of the tournament (69) and Ibrahima Balde (76) forced extra time, where Giovani dos Santos and Hector Herrera punished defensive errors.
Semi-finals (7 August)
Mexico v Japan (Wembley, 18.00)
South Korea v Brazil (Old Trafford, 20.45)
Friday 10 August
Bronze medal match (Cardiff, 20.45)
Saturday 11 August
Final (Wembley, 16.00)
(Kick-offs CET, UK is one hour behind)