Australia bows out to last minute penalty

Australia has bowed out of the 2006 World Cup finals in the most dramatic of circumstances, when another controversial refereeing decision saw Fransesco Totti score with the last kick of the game from the penalty spot to win the Round of 16 clash for Italy 1-0 in Kaiserslautern.

Australia has bowed out of the 2006 World Cup finals in the most dramatic of circumstances, when another controversial refereeing decision saw Fransesco Totti score with the last kick of the game from the penalty spot to win the Round of 16 clash for Italy 1-0 in Kaiserslautern.

To say the way the tournament finished for Australia was gut-wrenching is an understatement, it was cruel and not deserved of this Australian side, who again showed they belong at this level with another good performance.

It was also an unfitting end to the tournament for Lucas Neill, who was adjudged to have fouled Fabio Grosso in the box, although replays show Neill, did not make contact with Grosso, but Italian defender rather falling over Neill.

Spanish referee Luis Cantalejo fell for it and pointed to the spot and after several minutes, Totti placed his penalty kick high to Schwarzer-s right, who was unable to repeat his heroics and pull off a last ditch save.

Australia in the end paid for not pushing more in attack with Italy down to 10-men, following the send off of Marco Materazzi in the 51st minute.

Australia was in control, but seemed to be playing for extra time, where it would try to assert its superior fitness.

But one last foray forward by Grosso wide on the left saw him skip past Bresciano on the left. He went into the box and sent Neill the wrong way and the rest is history.

In a way it summed up Australia-s World Cup with every game marred by a controversial refereeing. However this time it kicked the whole of Australia in the guts.

After Materazzi-s send-off for a studs challenge on Bresciano who was charging through the defence, Australia dominated play, with patient rather than full out attack.

The best chance in this period fell to Tim Cahill in the 81st minute, who headed Bresciano-s corner over the bar.

Bresciano fired a shot over the bar, while a minute later, Buffon saved at Mark Viduka-s feet as he was about latch onto a John Aloisi cross.

Earlier Chipperfield had seen a fierce shot saved by Buffoon, while Bresciano saw his free kick after the send-off go closely past the far post.

Italy also had a chance to wrap it up earlier with Iaquinta poking a shot straight to Schwarzer from close range.

The first half was played at a very slow pace, with Australia not wanting to exert themselves too much in the very hot playing conditions.

Italy, playing with three strikers, had the better of the chances, with Toni proving a handful in and around the penalty box with his height.

Both sides had chances in the 3rd minute of the match, Cahill heading across the face and then Luca Toni was inches wide of the far post from Alessandro Del Piero-s perfect cross.

Terrific cover tackles by Neill and Chipperfield denied Del Piero and Perrotta shots inside the penalty box.

Schwarzer then made two good stops, the first a tip over the bar from a Gilardino volley and then a stunning save with his legs to deny Toni, who turned Grella nicely in the box.

Viduka only real moment in the match came in the 24th minute, when he headed powerfully at goal, but straight into Buffon-s arms.

Australia-s best chance came on the half hour mark, with Buffon making a great save to deny a Chipperfield drive after the ball fell nicely for him in the penalty box.

Toni-s height again proved troublesome in the 34th minute, but he headed over the bar, while Gilardino just missed a Toni nod down with five minutes remaining.

Match Details

Australia 0 Italy 1 (Totti 95'+ pen)

Australia: Mark Schwarzer (gk); Lucas Neill, Craig Moore, Tim Cahill, Jason Culina, Mark Viduka (c), Vince Grella, Scott Chipperfield, Luke Wilkshire, Mile Sterjovski (John Aloisi 82-), Marco Bresciano

Cautions: Grella (23-), Cahill (49-), Wilkshire (61-)

Italy: Gianluigi Buffon (gk); Fabio Grosso, Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Del Piero (Fransesco Totti 75-), Gennaro Gattuso, Luca Toni (Andrea Barzagli 56-), Alberto Gilardino (Vincenzo Iaquinta 46-), Gianluca Zambrotta, Simon Perrotta, Andrea Pirlo, Marco Materazzi.

Cautions: Grosso (29'), Gattuso (89-), Zambrotto (91-) Expulsions: Materazzi (51-)

Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (ESP)