Soccer: Italy exit after loss

Italy suffered a stunning 3-2 quarter-final defeat against 10-man Belgium in the soccer on Saturday while Brazil and titleholders Argentina both won in extra time to set up a semifinal meeting.

Lionel Messiset up one goal and scored the other in Argentina's 2-1 win over the Netherlands and Brazil beat Cameroon 2-0 to avenge their traumatic quarter-final defeat against the Africans in Sydney eight years ago.

Belgium will face Nigeria in the semifinals.

Brazil and Cameroon produced one of the tournament's low points as they shared 12 yellow cards and 56 fouls in a cynical game which also saw Cameroon's Albert Baning dismissed in the 52nd minute for a second bookable offence.

"It's not even fun to talk about the referees any more," said Brazil coach Dunga. "When you have players of this level and officials who make the sort of decisions we saw today ... that says it all."

- AGENCIES