Paraguay prevail in penalties
June 30, 2010
Paraguay beat Japan 5-3 on penalties following a 0-0 draw to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in their history on Tuesday.
Substitute Oscar Cardozo scored the decisive spot-kick at the Loftus Versfeld stadium after Japan’s Yuichi Komano had smashed his penalty against the crossbar.
Paraguay, who became the fourth South American team in the last eight joining Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, will now meet Spain or Portugal.
“God was on our side. Now we want more,” said Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino, who was in floods of tears at the end of the shootout.
“Thank god we got through, Paraguay have never gone so far,” said striker Oscar Cardozo, who scored Paraguay’s winning penalty.
“We are all very happy, me because I scored the penalty and got it in, thank God. It was a very difficult match because Japan too have very good players.”
The shoot-out was needed after 90 minutes of regulation time and 30 minutes of extra time failed to separate the two teams in a tense affair of few chances.
Yoshito Okubo had an early chance for the Asian side but shot well wide while at the other end Edgar Benitez couldn’t keep his header down from Roque Santa Cruz’s inviting cross.
The game briefly exploded into life on 21 minutes as Paraguay striker Lucas Barrios sneaked in behind the defence with a lovely little drag back but then he prodded his shot straight at goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.
Less than 60 seconds later Daisuke Matsui ran onto a loose ball and tried his luck from distance only to see his curler crash against the Paraguay crossbar.
On 29 minutes Manchester City striker Santa Cruz should have done better when the ball dropped to him 12 yards out, but he rushed his left foot volley and dragged the ball wide.
Japan star Keisuke Honda set his sights five minutes from the break but his left-foot effort from 20 yards drifted wide.
At the start of the second period Nestor Ortigoza opened up the Japanese defence to create a shooting opportunity but Yuto Nagatomo slid in to make a goal-saving block.
Yuji Nakazawa was next to dive in and stop a goalbound effort from Benitez as Paraguay started to turn the screw.
Cristian Riveros then met a Claudio Morel cross with a firm header which went straight at Kawashima.
Five minutes into extra-time, Barrios’s header from Morel’s cross landed in Kawashima’s arms before Nelson Valdez turned sharply on the edge of the box to create a half chance that Kawashima smothered.
At the other end Paraguay captain and keeper Justo Villar palmed away a fizzing Honda freekick.
Japan had a late opportunity on the counter attack but after Shinji Ozakazi’s backheel released Keiji Tamada the Nagoya Grampus Eight forward opted to cross instead of shoot and the chance went begging.
Source: thedailystar.net
US Senate set to OK Petraeus as Afghan commander
June 30, 2010
US General David Petraeus faces a confirmation hearing in the Senate yesterday expected to expose growing doubts about the US effort in Afghanistan but broad support for the four-star general chosen to lead it.
One of the US military’s biggest stars, Petraeus is widely credited with helping turn the tide in Iraq. President Barack Obama hopes he can do the same with the unpopular, nine-year-old war in Afghanistan.
BO account maintenance fee goes up
June 30, 2010
The stockmarket regulator has imposed an additional Tk 200 in annual maintenance fee on each beneficiary owner (BO) account.
The decision effective from July takes the total annual maintenance fee to Tk 500.
Rhythm divine
June 30, 2010
Eminent tabla artiste Pandit Samar Saha of Banaras Gharana (school of music) performed at Bengal Shilpalaya, Dhanmondi, in Dhaka on June 28. Renowned sarangi artiste Ramlal [of Banaras] accompanied Pt. Saha during the two hour-long captivating performance.
Rhythm represents life. Naturally it takes center stage in any kind of music. The slow and fast tempo in soft or bold tones brings tremendous variety to an otherwise monotonous musical flow. A musician therefore needs a matured percussionist like Pt. Samar Saha.
Fresh areas flooded as rain-fed rivers swell in three districts
June 30, 2010
Heavy rain in the last 48 hours has further worsened the flood situation in Netrakona, Gaibandha and Sirajganj districts.
About one lakh have been marooned as floodwater inundated at least 30 more villages in two bordering upazilas of Durgapur and Kamlakanda in Netrakona, reports our correspondent.
‘Impose addl taxes on tobacco products to discourage sale’
June 30, 2010
Anti-tobacco organisations yesterday demanded the government to impose additional taxes on cigarette, tobacco and tobacco-products to discourage their sale.
The demand came from a sit-in programme organised by Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance (BATA) at the National Press Club.
Govt fears sabotage following Jamaat leaders’ arrest: Sahara
June 30, 2010
Home Minister Sahara Khatun on Wednesday said special instruction has been given to the law enforcers across the country apprehending sabotage following the arrests of three top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami.
25 hurt in RMG workers-police clash in capital
June 30, 2010
At least 25 people, including police personnel, were injured in a clash between garment workers and law enforcers at East Sheorapara in the capital’s Kafrul area on Wednesday.
Production in at least 15 garment factories of the area remains suspended following the clash that turned the entire area into a battlefield.
Parliament passes Tk 132,170cr budget
June 30, 2010
Parliament on Wednesday passed Tk 132,170 crore budget for 2010-11 fiscal in absence of the opposition.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith moved the Appropriations Bill seeking budgetary allocations of Tk 1998,73,65,38,000, which was passed by voice vote.
50 jamaat men detained
June 30, 2010
At least 50 leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami were detained from different parts of the country since Tuesday midnight.
Police picked up at least 22 Jamaat supporters from Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court premises in the capital from 11:00am to Wednesday afternoon.