Match Report

Goalkeeper Carlos Roa stopped the final penalty shot taken by substitute David Batty to send two-time champion Argentina into the quarterfinals with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over England in Saint-Étienne, France.  Batty directed his shot to the left side and Roa guessed correct, stopping the ball with both hands. Defender Roberto Ayala converted what turned out to be the fourth and winning goal on Argentina's final kick of the shootout round.

Both teams missed their second shots. Argentina's Hernan Crespo was stopped by goalkeeper David Seaman, while Paul Ince missed for England.  Argentina has never lost a penalty shootout in the World Cup.  The last second-round match featured the first penalty shootout of the tournament. The match was tied 2-2 after regulation and at the end of two 15-minute overtime periods.

Gabriel Batistuta opened the scoring for Argentina in the sixth minute of the first half, also on a penalty shot. He tallied his fifth goal of the tournament, half of Argentina's total of 10 in regulation time.  

But just four minutes later, England's Alan Shearer equalized with a penalty shot of his own. Michael Owen helped a dive, fooling referee Milton Kim Nielsen of Denmark on a minimal contact with Ayala.  Playing more aggressive, England went up 2-1 in the 16th minute on an individual effort from Michael Owen, who was set on his way from around midfield by David Beckham and finished a great run past defender Jose Chamot with a precise shot high to the far left post from just inside the penalty area.

Two minutes later, Paul Ince took a one-time blast from well outside the penalty area which sailed just over the crossbar.  Forward Claudio Lopez eluded defender Sol Campbell in the 45th minute, but his weak shot from an angle on the right was easily covered by Seaman.

One minute into stoppage time of the half, Argentina's Javier Zanetti equalized with a brilliant goal off a set kick.  Batistuta appeared to be taking the 24-yard shot, but Juan Veron unexpectedly passed low to Zanetti in the area, who freed himself and set up for a left-footed finish that beat Seaman high to the far post.

Two minutes into the second half, the momentum changed when Beckham was red-carded for kicking Diego Simeone, who received a yellow card for the incident.  Shearer had a good 25-yard free kick in the 52nd minute, but Roa's save was better. Lopez had a shot in the 59th minute which Campbell deflected into a corner kick.

Despite a man down, the English defence held up well throughout the second half and overtime to push the match to a penalty shootout.  In addition to Beckham's red card, referee Nielsen issued yellow cards to Seaman for the foul on Simeone, and to Ince, Veron, Matias Almeyda and Roa, who received his for arguing before the third penalty of the shootout.  - CNN/SI - Soccer World Cup 1998.