Azzurri advance
By MSN’s Lee Harvey
Last updated: June 26 2006
Italy 1 – 0 Australia
Another day at the World Cup, another officious referee, another red card, another game ruined. But unlike four years ago, the Italians refused to buckle and got a win their play deserved.
Italy had played with patience and, with Australia lacking a holding midfielder to protect their defence, a certainty that they could create chances at will. With 20 minutes gone, the Azzurri had assumed control of the game playing with the arrogance/confidence (delete as appropriate) that comes from being unbeaten in 21 matches.
With Pirlo pulling the strings, Italy looked like scoring every time they came forward. Except for the fact that they had Luca Toni playing up front. His shot on the turn was well saved by Mark Schwarzer. He then headed a chance over from 5 yards and somehow contrived to shank the ball wide from 3 yards out. How did this man manage to score 31 goals in Serie A last season?
Having hung on for 45 minutes, Australia were given a lifeline by referee Medina Cantalejo. The Spanish official gave Italian stopper Marco Materazzi an unbelievable straight red card for a challenge on Bresciano. Yes, it was a foul. It might have even been a booking. A sending off it was not.
Despite having the extra man, Australia showed precious little ambition to win the game. The Italians were happy to play on the counter-attack. The result? A stalemate heading inevitably towards extra time and penalties.
Not this time. The rank performance of the referee finally caught up with the Aussies in injury time. Full back Grosso fell over Lucas Neill and the penalty was awarded. Substitute Totti, so often a flop at major tournaments, lashed the spot kick into the roof of the net with the very last kick of the game.
It was a harsh way to lose – but Australia will regret their lack of adventure when Italy were reduced to 10 men.
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Updated second round results 
