Netherlands edge Ghana, Akaminko injured

Robin van Persie's early goal earned the Netherlands a 1-0 victory in their international friendly against fellow FIFA World Cup™ finalists Ghana in Rotterdam.

The Manchester United striker slotted home the only goal of the game after just six minutes when he was left with a simple finish after being set up by Wesley Sneijder. The Netherlands missed a number of chances to increase their lead, most notably through Arjen Robben, but they kept Ghana out at the other end to record their first victory since defeating Turkey last October. Since that match the Dutch have drawn with Japan, Colombia and Ecuador, while losing 2-0 to France in Paris.

For Ghana, the defeat will be a disappointment but of more concern for coach Kwesi Appiah was the serious-looking injury suffered by defender Jerry Akaminko, who was carried off on a stretcher late on after appearing to land awkwardly on an ankle. With the start of the World Cup just over a fortnight away, it remains to be seen if the Eskisehirspor player will be able to feature in Brazil.

Dutch coach Louis van Gaal named a strong line-up for their penultimate friendly match before they kick-off their World Cup campaign against Spain on 13 June, and three of his star names combined to open the scoring early on.

Robben sent Sneijder racing into the area and the Galatasaray playmaker cut the ball back as Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey came out to meet him, giving captain Van Persie an easy tap-in into an empty net.

Robben should have made it 2-0 soon after but contrived to miss a great chance from close range, before the winger saw an effort blocked by Kwarasey. The Bayern Munich man was again denied by Kwarasey just before the break and, continuing the theme, the Ghana custodian parried another Robben shot midway through the second half.

In the closing stages Ghana pushed for an equaliser but the unmarked Andre Ayew headed well over when he might have been better served bringing the ball down, while the same player saw a deflected shot saved by Jasper Cillessen as the match entered stoppage time.

After Akaminko's injury, the Netherlands had a great chance to add a second right at the end but Jeremain Lens fluffed his header from six yards out.

Montolivo injury ruins Italy's warm-up

Italy's FIFA World Cup™ plans were thrown into turmoil as Riccardo Montolivo was stretchered off during a 0-0 draw against the Republic of Ireland.

Montolivo made seven appearances for the Azzurri during their World Cup qualifying campaign and was set to be a key member of Cesare Prandelli's side in Brazil. But the AC Milan midfielder suffered a serious-looking left ankle injury early in the first half of the friendly at Fulham's Craven Cottage and, with early reports suggesting it could be broken, it must be extremely unlikely he will recover in time for the World Cup.

To make matters worse for Prandelli, he also saw Fiorentina midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who had come on for Montolivo, forced off with an injury before half-time. Prandelli, whose side kick off their World Cup campaign against England on 14 June, has yet to prune his provisional 30-man squad down to a final group of 23 and he will be sweating on the medical bulletins on Montolivo and Aquilani before making the final cut.

The only positive for Prandelli, who fielded an experimental line-up, was the sight of Fiorentina striker Giuseppe Rossi playing 70 minutes to prove his fitness after a serious knee injury sidelined him for much of the second half of the season. Rossi was handed an opportunity to prove his fitness and the American-born 27-year-old partnered Torino's Ciro Immobile, who was making his debut in attack after finishing as the top scorer in the Italian Serie A this season.

Claudio Marchisio was first to threaten for Italy with a long range effort which drew a fine save from David Forde. Republic of Ireland hit back when John O'Shea collected Aiden McGeady's cross and tested Salvatore Sirigu, deputising for rested first choice goalkeeper Gigi Buffon.

The major blow for Italy came in the 14th minute when Montolivo was carried off after being caught on by a strong challenge from Ireland defender Alex Bruce. The Italians looked rattled by Montolivo's cruel exit and Irish midfielder Anthony Pilkington brought Sirigu into action again with a low 20-yard shot.

Prandelli's side took a long period to recover their composure before Torino left-back Matteo Darmian, making his debut, fired narrowly wide from Rossi's pass.

Another fine Republic of Ireland move ended with David Meyler's shot well saved by Sirigu. Ireland were well on top as half-time approached and Shane Long's header was kept out by an excellent Sirigu stop.

Incredibly there was another injury setback for Italy before the break when Aquilani, who earned a reputation for fitness problems during his spell at Liverpool, limped disconsolately off.

Long almost put Ireland ahead early in the second half, but his strike was repelled by Sirigu. Prandelli's men thought they had taken the lead in the 55th minute, but Immobile's tap-in was ruled out for offside.

That was Immobile's last contribution as his debut came to an end moments later when he was replaced by veteran Parma forward Antonio Cassano.

O'Neill's side could have added insult to injury for the Italians in the closing stages when Stephen Quinn hit the underside of the crossbar and McGeady's follow-up shot was well saved by the impressive Sirigu.

History-makers Fiji clinch U-20 spot

Fiji have made history by qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time in their history.

It is only the second time that Oceania will be represented at the tournament by a team other than New Zealands - hosts of the 2015 edition - and former OFC members Australia. Now, the Fijians are set to continue on a trail first blazed by Tahiti in 2009 after emerging triumphant from the six-team, round robin OFC U-20 Championship.

Their place at next year's finals, along with OFC trophy, was secured with a comeback win overSolomon Islands in the final match on the final day of a pulsating tournament. Fiji, as hosts, were always expected to be strong contenders for the continent's solitary berth at New Zealand 2015, but were pushed all the way by a valiant Vanuatu team.

The Vanuatuans, who ended the tournament unbeaten, had kept their hopes alive first by drawing 2-2 with Fiji on Thursday and then earlier today with a 4-2 victory over Papua New Guinea in their concluding fixture. That heaped the pressure on Fiji, who knew that only a defeat against the Solomons in Suva would deny them the title.

A defeat, though, was exactly what they were left facing after nine minutes when tournament top scorer Atkin Kaua drilled an unstoppable shot into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the box to stun the home support. Fiji had paid the price for a cautious and nervy start to the match, but their character began to shine through as the first half wore on and they grabbed a scrappy equaliser 15 minutes later.

This is a victory I want to dedicate to all the coaches and teachers who have done so much to develop Fijian football over the past 60, 70 years.

Fiji coach Ravinesh Kumar

Nickel Chand was the player to profit from a spillage from the otherwise excelled Phillip Mango, slotting into the partially guarded net and calming a few Fijian jitters in the process. And the pendulum swung yet further towards the hosts just a couple of minutes later when Praneel Naidu curled an inch-perfect free-kick over the wall and beyond Mango's despairing dive.

Fiji rarely looked in danger thereafter, and could have moved out of sight but for Mango denying the dangerous Samuel Nabenia. For coach Ravinesh Kumar, whose side finished runners-up to New Zealand in the same competition last year, there was only cause to be grateful as he reflected on his team's achievement.

He said: "I'd like to thank the players for their hard work, they have sacrificed a lot over the last six months, and to thank their parents for allowing the boys to spend so much time in camp. I must also thank everyone who has placed their trust in this management team. This is a victory I want to dedicate to all the coaches and teachers who have done so much to develop Fijian football over the past 60, 70 years."

Fiji's continued development should be aided considerably by their youngsters' experiences among the world elite next year, with Tahiti's senior team already having benefited from the adventures of their U-20 stars in 2009.

And while Kumar's side were the big winners, and deserved champions, in this excellent OFC tournament, there was plenty of encouragement to be drawn elsewhere. Etienne Mermer's Vanuatushowed that they will be a force to be reckoned with at future continental events and, as well as emerging unbeaten, had the tournament's outstanding player in Golden Ball winner Jacky Ruben.

New Caledonia could also reflect with great pride on having finished third, winning three of their five matches, while there was plenty of good football produced by the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands sides coached by regional legends Wynton Rufer and Commins Menapi respectively. All will depart with Fiji with reasons to cheerful, but it is their hosts who will spend the next year looking forward to an appearance on the world stage.