Thursday, June 15, 2006

Lemerre furious as Tunisia escape with point


Tunisia defender Radhi Jaidi rescued a point with a powerful header in stoppage time against Saudi Arabia yesterday.
Saudi Arabia's record goalscorer Sami Al Jaber looked to have given his side the win when he came off the bench to put them 2-1 up with six minutes to go.
Just 90 seconds after his introduction, veteran Al Jaber beat Tunisian keeper Ali Boumnijel with a left-footed shot.
Ziad Jaziri's first-half volley had given Tunisia the lead, before Yasser Al Kahtani equalised with a deft flick.

The draw means Spain are top of Group H with three points, with Tunisia and Saudi Arabia joint second on one point each.
Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre was bitterly disappointed afterwards: "We weren't very assured. While the first goal gave us a boost, it was not enough."
Midfielder Adel Chedli added: "What didn't work for us? Everything. It was a catastrophe. We never really found our rhythm.
"We led 1-0 at half-time but then did some foolish things."
Tunisia became the first African nation to pick up a point in Germany but Chedli took little consolation from that.
"I didn't recognise our team in this match but on Monday we hope to be a different team against Spain," he said.
"We definitely aim to still qualify and if it means we have to beat Ukraine in the last match then we will do everything to beat them."
Saudi coach Marcos Paqueta was more upbeat afterwards, declaring: "We showed two faces in this match. At first, we were nervous, we were scared of Tunisia.
"But at half-time I told them to attack down the wings and despite the late goal I was happy with the result."