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| March 22nd 2005 |
Munich, Olympia Stadion
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| YUGOSLAVIA - BULGARIA |
1-1 (0-1)
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GOALS 23' 0-1 Hristo Stoichkov
84' 1-1 Stjepan Bobek
REFEREE Jack Taylor (England)
ATTENDANCE 78,000
YELLOW CARDS Jarni, Dzajic, Katalinski (YUG)
Ivanov, Schalamanov, Stoichkov, Sirakov (BUL)
RED CARDS Stojkovic (YUG) - Stoichkov (BUL)
YUGOSLAVIA (Coach: Miljan Miljanic, system 4-3-3)
1 Vladimir Beara
2 Branko Stankovic (-38)
5 Josip Katalinski
4 Velimir Zajec (-64)
3 Robert Jarni
7 Vladimir Petrovic
17 Ivan Gudelj
10 Dragan Stojkovic
9 Stjepan Bobek
20 Davor Suker (-69)
11 Dragan Dzajic (captain)
Substitutes:
16 Milutin Ivkovic (+38)
6 Vladislav Bogicevic (+64)
13 Branko Zebec (+69)
BULGARIA (Player/Coach: Dimitar Penev, system 4-3-3)
1 Borislav Mikhailov
2 Aleksander Schalamanov
18 Dimitar Penev (-12)
6 Trifon Ivanov
3 Boris Gaganelov
10 Hristo Bonev (captain)
13 Dimitar Jakimov (-73)
12 Krassimir Balakov
11 Ivan Kolev (-80)
9 Georgi Asparukhov
8 Hristo Stoichkov
Substitutes:
5 Ivan Dimitrov (+12)
4 Nasko Sirakov (+73)
20 Todor Diev (+80)
MATCHREPORT
Bulgarian playing coach Dimitar Penev changed his team on a few places after
the 1-0 defeat against Czechoslovakia. Midfielder Boskov had been replaced
by more attackminded Krassimir Balakov and outside right Jekov, who had been
a total fall-out in the first match, was taken off in favour of Ivan Kolev,
normally one to play on the left, but today the man Penev trusted to make it
difficult to Robert Jarni, the Yugoslavian left back. In the Yugoslavian
team it was Davor Suker who was included in place of Sekularac. Bobek now
came from the right, Suker in his place playing centre forward.
It would be the match of Bulgaria's superstar Hristo Stoichkov. He was the
one who seemed to offer his team the win but later in the match he also
enabled Yugoslavia to come back into the game when he received a silly red
card. Bulgaria were the superior team for more than 70 minutes. And that
was a surprise. Yugoslavia seemed to suffer again from too much
selfconfidence once they had booked a fine result. Ease-loving they tried to
hold the ball in their ranks, but the stars from the match against Scotland
wouldn't do the dirty work for one another this time. Petrovic, the
orchestrator, remained pale and Stojkovic was surpassed by the great Hristo
Bonev. All three strikers just wanted to receive the ball in their feet, not
prepared to run into open field. It resulted in lazy looking, slow football.
Bulgaria on the other end played enthusiastic, creative and wanted to wipe
out the defeat against the Czechs. And they nearly succeeded in doing it.
Even though Penev got injured early on and had to hand over his positon to
Ivan Dimitrov.
Stoichkov was on song this day and Branko Stankovic, his direct opponent,
simply didn't know what to do against it. Most striking element was that it
took until the 23rd minute until Stoichkov made his superiority count. It
was a quick counter that led from Balakov to Jakimov. The technically gifted
central midfielder sent Stoichkov deep - Stankovic all at sea - and he let
Beara no chance: 0-1. Stoichkov and Kolev had missed earlier chances, it
could have been decided at this stage. And though it wasn't, the Bulgarians
remained the far better team throughout the first half. They seemed to feel
no pressure. Jakimov painted numerous beautiful attacks and Beara saved
magnificently from a new Stoichkov effort. A Bonev shot also found the
Yugoslavian goalie on its way. Yugoslavia could have been dead and buried,
but they had referee Jack Taylor on their side when he disallowed a
Schalamanov goal because of off-side. Taylor was back on the place where he
was in charge of the 1974 final and he went on with taking controversial
decisions. In the first half he distributed five yellow cards. One more
deserved than the other.
Coach Miljanic had seen enough after 38 minutes and took Stankovic off. In
his place Milutin Ivkovic entered the pitch ordered to tame Stoichkov. The
captain of Yugoslavia's 1930 team did a lot better than his predecessor.
Still the team wasn't able to impress. Bobek headed a Dzajic cross - his
only addition in the first half - over the bar and Petrovic lobbed the ball
just over when Schalamanov had miskicked it. But that was it for the
bluewhite, who were lucky to escape with 1-0 behind.
And after the break, it seemed to get even worse. After his five yellow
cards Taylor had to draw a red one just minutes after the restart. Dragan
Stojkovic got fouled from behind by Dimitrov and took revenche by pushing
the defender to the ground. Taylor could do nothing but send the midfield
star off. It was the first time Stojkovic had done something that caught the
eye. Bulgaria in front 1-0 and with a man more on the pitch. They kept on
playing forward and Balakov had the big chance to make everything clear. One
on one with Beara however, he struck the post. Just moments later Stoichkov
got a brilliant cross from Jakimov again, but found the bar above Beara. And
Yugoslavia? Nothing!
Miljanic knew this couldn't last and Zajec had to leave the field. In his
place Bogicevic got the chance to lead the defence and do something to
create more danger for goalkeeper Mikhailov who had touched only backpasses.
A few minutes later Suker left and Zebec came. But it changed very little,
it was Bulgaria and nothing but Bulgaria. The only thing that could happen
in favour of Yugoslavia was, that Bulgaria would shoot themselves in the
foot. And that happened. Fifteen minutes before the end Stoichkov,
cautioned earlier, hammered the ball in the stands when caught for off-side.
Taylor knew no mercy and gave him his marching orders. It was ten versus ten
and what was more important: Bulgaria lost the momentum, Yugoslavia got new
hope. Ivan Gudelj now tried a couple of times, both times Mikhailov was
there to keep it out. But it was a warning sign.
But in the 84th minute the equalizer came. It started with Diev, replacement
for Kolev, losing the ball to Katalinski. Gudelj sent Zebec away who
released an inch-perfect cross for Bobek who flew through the air and headed
it past Mikhailov. Absolutely not deserved but goals count. Bulgaria had
dominated the match until Stoichkov, the best man on the field, threw it
away with his overemotional acting. For Bulgaria, just like against the
Czechs, the game had lasted a few minutes too long. For Yugoslavia this
point came from nowhere. Friend and foe agreed that against 11, they would not
have had the slightest chance.
Group B remained completely open until the last matches, played
simultaneously in Rome and Madrid. Yugoslavia and the Czechs would meet, as
well as Bulgaria and Scotland. For Bulgaria a win was needed, Yugoslavia
knew they would have enough with a draw. Czechoslovakia and Scotland would
be dependent on each other's results. Something to look forward too.
Next Tuesday Paraguay and Hungary will try to recover from their first match
defeats in group D. The Estadio Nacional in Santiago is the venue and
Gottfried Dienst is the referee. Hungary are huge favourites for this match.
Though losing to Italy, they convinced with their firm and positive approach
that could have easily earned them at least a point. As far as class in
attack is concerned, Hungary are unmatched. Kubala, Kocsis, Puskas and
Czibor can do the damage to any team in the tournament. Paraguay should have
scored points against Romania but they didn't. And even worse, there was no
single moment that they looked a side capable of upsetting other teams.
Paraguay are without defender Torales, sent off against Romania. Coach
Cayetano Ré will certainly consider a few changes. The winner is still in
the hunt for the second round, the loser can forget about it.
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