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| January 18th 2005 |
Pasadena, Rose Bowl
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| SCOTLAND - YUGOSLAVIA |
1-3 (0-2)
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GOALS 11' 0-1 Ivan Gudelj
15' 0-2 Vladimir Petrovic
50' 1-2 Denis Law
87' 1-3 Ivica Surjak
REFEREE Sandor Puhl (Hungary)
ATTENDANCE 83,000
YELLOW CARDS Bremner, Young, Caldow (SCO)
Katalinski, Stojkovic, Stankovic (YUG)
SCOTLAND (Coach: Jock Stein, system 4-3-3)
1 John Thompson
2 Danny McGrain
6 George Young (captain)
5 Gordon McQueen
3 Eric Caldow
12 Paul McStay (-68)
4 Billy Bremner
10 Jim Baxter (-77)
7 Kenny Dalglish (-68)
9 Dennis Law
11 Alan Morton
Substitutes:
17 Ally McCoist (+68)
8 Hugh Gallacher (+68)
16 Greame Souness (+77)
YUGOSLAVIA (Coach: Miljan Miljanic, system 4-3-3)
1 Vladimir Beara
2 Branko Stankovic
5 Josip Katalinski
4 Velimir Zajec
3 Robert Jarni
7 Vladimir Petrovic (-82)
10 Dragan Stojkovic (-55)
17 Ivan Gudelj
8 Dragoslav Sekularac (-69)
9 Stjepan Bobek
11 Dragan Dzajic (captain)
Substitutes:
19 Ivica Surjak (+55)
15 Branko Oblak (+69)
18 Jovan Acimovic (+82)
MATCHREPORT
Scotland had travelled to Pasadena considering themselves co-favourites
for the title. Maybe not on Brazil's level, but close behind at least. As
always full of selfconfidence. They would reach the second round, at last.
All bad luck, incidents and misfortunes from the past didn't seem to matter
anymore, this was going to be The Big Revenge. But after 15 minutes of
Scotland-Yugoslavia they knew better and Stein's men were back on earth.
Yugoslavia had struck twice and had Scotland lying on their back, devestated
and not knowing what had happened.
Scotland were outplayed in that first quarter of an hour, especially in
midfield. Their goal was to play forward, but McStay, Bremner and Baxter won
no single ball against the eager Yugoslavs who had their outstanding player
in Vladimir Petrovic. Jim Baxter, the flamboyant lefty, was at all sea
against the brilliant playmaker and it came as no surprise that
Petrovic was the man who made the first goal. A quick turn past Bremner was
followed by a smart pass to Bobek. The central striker tipped it to Ivan
Gudelj, who rounded John Thompson and slotted home resolutely: 0-1.
This was the sign for Scotland to attack even more enthusiastically than they were
used to already. Shortly after the opening goal, Beara had to make a save
from Law's effort. Alan Morton had overlapped Stankovic and offered Law the
chance, but Beara was exactly on the right spot. That could have saved the
day for Scotland, but there was worse to come. McQueen had fouled Sekularac
and from the free kick, Vladimir Petrovic sent the ball just under the bar
and behind shell-shocked John Thompson. An early decision? Scotland wouldn´t
accept it, but at least it looked like that. Scotland were back to reality
and knew they had an awful mountain to climb.
Yugoslavia had some players in their ranks (Stojkovic, Sekularac) who were
known for being quite self-willed, but played very well together. Gudelj did
most of the dirty work in midfield for his more talented teammates, but
neither Stojkovic nor Petrovic withdrew from their defensive duties. They
gave Bremner and Baxter a hard time. Backs Stankovic and Jarni tried to
support their attack whenever possible, luring Dalglish and Morton to rather
unfamiliar ground. All in all an interesting and open match. Yugoslavia
wanted to play, Scotland had to. It was also a tense match, with fouls all
over the pitch as well. Sandor Puhl had difficulties keeping things decent,
and drew one yellow card after the other. Katalinski escaped from receiving
his marching orders when he, with a yellow card already to his tally,
brutally fouled Alan Morton. Puhl closed his eyes this time.
Yugoslavia were able to keep possession of the ball most of the first half.
That kept away the Scots from the Yugoslavian goal. The only chances came
from corners. Morton found McQueen's head twice. First the blond stopper
headed it just wide, and subsequently he offered Dalglish a shooting
opportunity. Zajec went in the way. Until half time it remained 0-2, if
anything was clear it was that Scotland had to score quickly after the break
to bring back the excitement. But entertaining it had been all the way.
And in the second half, Scotland did something back. It was Morton again,
breaking free from Stankovic, who set up the attack, Dennis Law nonchalantly
sidefooted it past Beara: 1-2. Five minutes were played. Scotland smelled
blood and raised the pressure. The more the game progressed, the more
problems Stankovic had with "Wee Blue Devil" Morton, who slided past him one
time after the other. His crosses however didn't find recognition from Law
and Dalglish. Beara kept a cool head and held on to shots by Bremner and
George Young. Law went close a couple of times, but he couldn't find the net
for the second time in this match. On the other end of the pitch Bobek had
the decision on his foot, but McGrain stepped in and blocked his shot to
corner.
Jock Stein knew that he had to do something. He took pale Paul McStay and
Kenny Dalglish off and hoped that McCoist and Hugh Gallacher could do more
damage against Zajec & Co. Four strikers, but it did not mean that Scotland
got more of the ball. Gudelj took care of McCoist and Dzajic played more as
a midfielder now, where Surjak had replaced the injured Dragan Stojkovic and
Oblak came for the tiring Sekularac. When time advanced it became clear that
Scotland was about to make a false start once again. And when Surjak headed
the third Yugoslavian goal past Thompson, a couple of minutes from the end,
Scotland had already bowed their heads. They had fought like only Scotsmen
can, they had lost as seemed to be prejudiced to Scotland. Yugoslavia had
proven to be a good and dangerous side, it remained to be seen what the
euphoria would do with them.
Next Friday Romania and Paraguay open group D in the beautiful Azteca
Stadium in Mexico City. Neither of these teams are expected to make it to the
final, played in the same stadium. But both teams can field great
players. Romania of course will be built around Gheorghe Hagi. He has
support from strong players like Gica Popescu, Ladislau Bölöni and marksman
Dudu Georgescu. Paraguay will have to rely on their strong defense captained
by the giant goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert. Up front they have the superb
Arsenio Erico, capable of scoring from nothing. This game is very important
for both teams. With strong opposition from Hungary and Italy a win is
necessary. Nikolaj Latichev from Russia, who was the referee in the 1962
World Cup final, is the man at the wheel.
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