FIFA World Cup : Khazri strike ends Tunisia's 40-year World Cup match victory drought
Saransk (Russia), June 29 : Wahbi Khazri struck a second-half winner as Tunisia secured their first win in FIFA World Cup after 40 years by overcoming debutants Panama 2-1 in a Group G clash here on Thursday.
Yassine Meriah gifted Panama the lead by turning the ball into his own net before Fakhreddine Ben Youssef equalized just after halftime. Khazri completed the turnaround just after the hour mark with his second goal of the tournament, reports Xinhua news agency.
The North African side's last victory in football's flagship event was a 3-1 defeat of Mexico in Argentina in 1978.
The result had no bearing on the final Group G standings as both teams were already eliminated from the competition. Belgium topped the group with nine points after their 1-0 win over England, who finished second with six points. Tunisia go home with three points while Panama were last in the group with three straight losses.
Tunisia looked the better team early here but Naim Sliti and Ben Youssef both spurned chances to put their team ahead.
Panama scored against the run of play just after the half-hour mark when Jose Luis Rodriguez's long-range shot deflected off Meriah, giving goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi no chance.
Tunisia continued to surge forward in numbers and Panama had captain Roman Torres to thank when he booted clear Khazri's second effort after his initial attempt was blocked by goalkeeper Jaime Penedo.
Tunisia equalised six minutes after the restart when Sliti set up Khazri on the right before the Rennes forward pulled the ball back to Ben Youssef, who stabbed a shot into the left corner.
Ben Youssef should have scored again two minutes later but sent a shot straight at Penedo when he had only the goalkeeper to beat. Panama were under sustained attack and there was a sense of inevitability about the goal that put them behind in the 66th minute.
Oussama Haddadi began the move with a slide-rule pass from the left and Khazri was perfectly positioned at the far post to fire in his 14th international goal.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Five engineering students killed as car rams into truck in Andhra
Chilakutpeta (Andhra Pradesh) (PTI): Five engineering students who were observing Ayyappa Swamy deeksha (penance) have been killed in an accident here in Palnadu district when their car crashed into a truck from behind, said a police official.
Police said the accident occurred late on Thursday on the new bypass road in Chilakutpeta after the truck driver allegedly slowed down his vehicle suddenly.
"Four students died on the spot, and another person succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital," the official told PTI.
The students were travelling from Guntur to Penukonda in Sri Satya Sai district, police said. Meanwhile, police registered a case under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
_vb_05.jpeg)
