At least we save some pride and faith

* Mark Bosnich
* From: The Australian
* June 21, 2010 12:00AM

WE harangued, we demanded and we pleaded. In the end, we got something to support, something to cheer.

It may not be enough to rescue our Word Cup campaign, but at least it restored some faith and pride after the German debacle.

The Socceroos deserve a huge thank you. Win, lose or draw, their effort, commitment and passion on Saturday could not be faulted.

But even though Ghana was there for the taking, and even allowing for the fact Australia was down to 10 men, the Socceroos were just not good enough on the day to finish them off.

This was arguably our best performance for two years, and much-derided coach Pim Verbeek must take some credit for finally picking a line-up that could win and gearing the boys for the performance the country craved.

From Mark Schwarzer to Harry Kewell (in the time he was on the pitch) and the three substitutes, you can all feel proud of your performance.

There is still much to do, but you went a long way to erasing the nightmare of the opening game against the Germans.

Watching the players warm up, I could tell the difference in mood and intensity. Dominating the early period, the difference in having a striker (Kewell) to aim for was clear.

Brett Holman showed his cameo against Germany was no flash in the pan. He stayed close to Harry and we could have been mistaken for thinking we were playing two up front.

Then a gift. Resembling a cinema usher carrying too much popcorn and choc tops, the Ghanaian keeper Richard Kingson fumbled a Mark Bresciano free-kick and Holman knocked home the rebound. Perfect start.

Then the pivotal point. Australia failed to clear a Ghana corner. The ball fell dangerously inside the area and the shot was going in until it struck Kewell, stationed on the goal-line.

Was it ball to hand? Hand to ball? Deliberate or not? Did our 'arry deserve to be sent off?

The only opinion that mattered was the referee's.

He pointed to the spot, then pointed Harry to the dressing room. Harsh? Very.

When someone hits the ball at you that hard from that range, it is near impossible to move your arm out of the way.

However, as soon as the decision was made to award a penalty, the referee had no choice but to send him off. We rocked on our feet after that, but this time we did not fall down.

Ghana comes out in the second half looking to kill us off but its inexperience and poor decision-making are apparent. Even with 10 men, the Socceroos sense their opponent is there for the taking.

Surely it's time to throw Josh Kennedy into the frame.

But it's Scott Chipperfield, and almost with his first touch he misses a great header opportunity. Oh, if that was only Kennedy, or better still Timmy Cahill.

Ghana is still dangerous and presses forward, but Craig Moore, who is having a superb game and is a rock in defence, produces some last-ditch heroics.

Finally, Kennedy is on, and it's who dares wins. This is an exhilarating, tense contest.

Then, our biggest moment. Luke Wilkshire is left unmarked, one-on-one with the popcorn goalkeeper. But Kingson redeems himself with a splendid double save and denies what would have been a great Australian victory.

That was our chance, that was when our hopes of progressing to the round of 16 were taken out of our hands.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/world-cup-2010/at-least-we-save-some-pride-and-faith/story-fn4l4sfy-1225882017299