Soccer: Italy in quarters, Australia out

Sydney: Italy became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Olympic soccer competition on Saturday when they defeated Honduras 3-1.

But host nation Australia were the first to be eliminated after losing 3-2 to defending gold medallists Nigeria.

The all-amateur team of Kuwait pulled off the surprise result of the competition so far -- coming from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 3-2.

Meanwhile, the United States and Cameroon both scored from the penalty spot to draw 1-1 and keep alive their hopes of making the quarter-finals.

The main drama of the night unfolded at the Sydney Football Stadium where a capacity 38,000 crowd were treated to a five-goal thriller which kept alive Nigeria's dreams of a second successive Olympic title but saw Australia eliminated after losing both their opening Group A matches.

The match was spoiled by a 55th minute brawl which involved 21 players and ended with both skippers red-carded by Brazilian referee Carlos Simon -- Celestine Babayaro of Nigeria and Brett Emerton of Australia.

The game itself was a thriller with Nigeria going 2-0 up inside the first 23 minutes with goals from Pius Ikedia (16) and Julius Aghahowa (23) only for Australia to score twice in four minutes just before halftime.

Hayden Foxe's 41st minute free-kick was deflected in by the head of Azubuike Oliseh and Kasey Wehrman added a second three minutes later.

A 64th minute mistake by Simon Colosimo handed Victor Agali the chance to score the winner and end Australia's gold medal dreams.

Australian coach Raul Blanco said afterwards, "I have to take the responsibility as I am the coach -- but our dressing room is the saddest place in Sydney right now."

Reports from Saturday's other matches:

Italy 3 Honduras 1

Italy, who beat Australia 1-0 in their opening match, maintained their 100 per cent record and secured a place in the quarter-finals with a 3-1 Group A win over Honduras in Adelaide after racing into a 3-0 lead in the first 22 minutes.

Honduras, who drew 3-3 with Nigeria in their opening game, found themselves two goals down as headers from Gianni Comandini (12) and Massimo Ambrosini (18) put Italy in command.

Comandini added a third four minutes after that -- and was on the scoresheet again after 29 minutes, this time as his own goal brought the score back to 3-1. Italy were not seriously troubled again and defended superbly for the rest of the game.

Kuwait 3 Czech Republic 2

The all-amateur team of Kuwait gave themselves a superb chance of a place in the last eight with a shock 3-2 win over the Czech Republic in a Group C match in Brisbane.

Trailing 1-0 at half-time to a second minute Marek Heinz goal, Kuwait stunned the Czechs with three goals in 17 minutes from Khalaf Almutairi (56) and Faraj Saeid (64 and 73).

The Czechs went close after 65 minutes when Libor Sionko hit the post, but their only response was a last-minute consolation from Roman Lengyel which leaves the group wide open.

Cameroon have four points, Kuwait three, the United States two and the Czechs one.

Czech coach Karel Buckner said afterwards, "We had so many chances to score, I can only shake my head and wonder how we didn't win, but at least we are not out of it yet."

United States 1 Cameroon 1

For the second successive match the United States played the better football but could only draw.

Both goals came from penalties in their Group C match in Canberra with Patrick Mboma scoring for Cameroon after 16 minutes when Jeff Agoos brought down Lauren in the box.

The United States replied in the 64th minute with a Pete Vagenas penalty after Cameroon keeper Daniel Bekono brought down Josh Wolff.



(c) Reuters Limited.