20 Jun 2010

10-man Socceroos still in it at World Cup - just

2:35 pm on 20 June 2010

Australia remains alive at the football World Cup after battling to a 1-1 draw with Ghana at Rustenberg.

The Socceroos were leading 1-0 before forward Harry Kewell was sent off in the 24th minute for handling the ball in the penalty area.

Ghana converted the resulting penalty.

But if Australia are to progress, they must beat Serbia in the final pool game - preferably by three goals or more - and hope the Ghana-Germany game doesn't end in a draw, hope for plenty of goals from Germany should they beat Ghana, or just one goal from Ghana to finish off the Germans.

The Socceroos are bottom of their pool on one point, Ghana are top with four points, while Serbia and Germany both have three points.

Elsewhere, the Netherlands are on the verge of making the next round after beating Japan 1-0 at Durban.

But France striker Nicolas Anelka has been sent home after reportedly insulting his coach Raymond Domenech during their loss to Mexico.