Soccer: Italy edge Australia with a little help from the ref

Italian fans celebrate their victory this morning outside Rome's famous Colosseum. Picture / Reuters

KAISERSLAUTERN - Italy went through to the quarterfinals of the soccer World Cup after Francesco Totti's penalty, with the last kick of the game, beat Australia 1-0 today but few neutral observers would consider the result to be a fair outcome of a disappointing contest.

Elimination in such a manner is always cruel but it was particularly rough justice on Guus Hiddink's Australian team and not only because they had been the better side for large parts of the game.

Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo's decision to award a penalty when Italy fullback Fabio Grosso fell over the prone body of Australian defender Lucas Neill was simply the wrong call.

The crowd, with a large number of neutrals, jeered the Azzurri off the field and applauded the Australians.

There was no attempt from Neill to foul Grosso, who was hugged by his teammates after Cantalejo pointed to the spot, but the Italians will probably think that justice was delivered after the harsh sending off their defender Marco Materazzi for a late challenge on Mark Bresciano.

Until the penalty, the game was heading into extra time and with Italy down to 10 men and looking ragged, the physically fitter Australians would have fancied their chances in the additional 30 minutes of play.

It was Italy's worst display of the tournament so far -- not only did they lack shape and purpose but they made a series of uncharacteristic, basic technical mistakes.

Four years ago Hiddink was coach of South Korea and masterminded Italy's exit from the competition at the second-round stage with a young team who harried the Azzurri.

It was a different approach this time from the Dutch coach with Australia making a surprisingly calm and relaxed start to the game, keeping the ball on the ground and attempting to draw Italy forward.

Italian coach Marcello Lippi tried to liven up his attack by replacing Alberto Gilardino with Vincenzo Iaquinta at the break.

But just five minutes into the second half, centre half Materazzi was shown the red card and Lippi took off striker Luca Toni to allow Andrea Barzagli to come into the centre of defence.

Tim Cahill could have won the game for the Australians when he headed over from close range after a Bresciano corner nine minutes from the end but then came the penalty and the bitter end for Australia's World Cup.

At the last World Cup, Hiddink's victory over Italy with South Korea was met with Italian complaints about unfavourable refereeing decisions and claims of a plot against them.

The Australians are unlikely to talk of a conspiracy but they could certainly have cause for complaint.

- REUTERS