Italy's Simone Perrotta and Gianluigi Buffon celebrate after Italy defeated Australia in their second round World Cup 2006 soccer match in Kaiserslautern yesterday. Italy won 1-0. - REUTERS
KAISERSLAUTERN (Reuters):
FRANCESCO TOTTI scored a penalty in the last minute of stoppage time to give 10-man Italy a 1-0 win over Australia in the World Cup second round yesterday.
Totti blasted home the penalty after defender Fabio Grosso had tumbled over Lucas Neill's challenge. Forward Totti, who came on as a substitute before striking the decisive final kick of the game, told reporters: "We suffered for long periods of the match but in the end it was the whole team that won this match because Australia were a strong side.
"Now I think we can go a long way in this tournament."
Italian coach Marcello Lippi was overjoyed after a win which sets up a quarter-final against Switzerland or Ukraine.
DELIGHTED
"I'm really delighted. These lads showed great heart, great character and also great quality."
He had no doubts over the penalty.
"When in the 92nd minute, our defender headed into the area and was taken down for a nailed-on penalty, I think it was something fantastic," Lippi said.
Australia coach Guus Hiddink was less convinced.
"Overall you can have doubts about the penalty," Hiddink told reporters.
"We are very disappointed because we were so close but I can be very proud of the team. I think the only thing we can blame ourselves for is that we did not get a goal."
STRAIGHT RED
Italy, eliminated by South Korea in the last 16 four years ago, were forced on to the backfoot throughout the second-half after being reduced to 10 men on 50 minutes, defender Marco Materazzi harshly shown a straight red by Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo for bringing down Marco Bresciano.
His dismissal took the total number at the tournament to 24. The previous record was 22 in France in 1998.
A closely-fought first half was just shaded by Italy, although the Socceroos were far from overawed in their first knockout game at the finals, despite missing the injured Harry Kewell and the suspended Brett Emerton.
Italy striker Luca Toni, yet to break his duck at the tournament, rose above a static defence to nod Alessandro Del Piero's left-wing cross narrowly wide in the fourth minute.
SCHWARZER'S SAVE
Toni's height was giving centre backs Craig Moore and Lucas Neill a few problems and recalled Australia keeper Mark Schwarzer twice came to his side's rescue with two good saves in as many minutes.
Alberto Gilardino forced Schwarzer to tip over his rising effort, the keeper following up in Italy's next attack by blocking Toni's low shot on the turn with his legs.
Australia countered with Scott Chipperfield testing Gianlugi Buffon for the first time.
Lippi beefed up his attack for the second half, replacing Gilardino with Vincenzo Iaquinta, but was forced to re-jig again after Materazzi's dis-missal, sacrificing Toni for defender Andrea Barzagli.
Chipperfield stung Buffon's gloves again, while Tim Cahill headed over the bar when well placed from a corner.
