World Cup 1982: Day-by-Day – Groups Take Shape

DAY SEVEN

Saturday 19th June 1982

GROUP ONE, Estadio Riazor, La Coruna. (17:15)

CAMEROON   (0)   0

POLAND   (0)   0

Cameroon: N’Kono; Kaham, M’Bom, Onana, N’Djeya; Aoudou, Kunde,M’Bida, Abega; Milla, N’Guea (Tokoto)

Poland: Mlynarczyk; Janas, Majewski, Palasz (Kusto), Zmuda; Jalocha, Buncol, Boniek; Iwan (Szarmach), Lato, Smolarek

After the draw between Italy and Peru yesterday, both these sides knew a win could prove their ticket to the next round. Neither side had scored in their opening matches and things didn’t change after another ninety minutes. Poland had the better of things in a fairly poor game with many of the shots coming from too far out to really test either keeper. The 0-0 draw meant all four games in this group had ended level so it was well set up for two winner-takes-all clashes in the final game. Poland had to play Peru with Cameroon needing to try and beat Italy to go through.

GROUP THREE, Estadio Nuevo, Elche. (21:00)

BELGIUM   (1)   1   (Coeck 19)

EL SALVADOR   (0)   0

Belgium: Pfaff; Gerets, Meeuws, Baecke, Millecamps; Vercauteren, Coeck, Vandersmissen (van der Elst), Cuelemans (van Moer); Vandenbergh, Czerniatynski

El Salvador: Mora; Jovel, Recinos, Fagoaga, Osorto (Diaz); Rodriguez, Ventura, Huezo; Ramirez, Rivas, Gonzalez

In Elche, Belgium were still buzzing from their opening day win over Argentina. They’d had the longest wait of any country between first and second game and with Hungary losing yesterday, Belgium knew a win here would almost confirm their way to the next round. El Salvador were just hoping to concede fewer goals than they had against Hungary. Not a particularly good game , as El Salvador were more physical than they had been before. Nineteen minutes in and Ludo Coeck scored a stunning strike from probably forty yards out. Any thoughts Belgium could match Hungary’s tally were unfortunately unfounded as it proved to be the only goal of the game. Belgium were now dominant at the top of the group needing just a draw against Hungary in their final match to go through. Argentina now knew if Hungary lost to Belgium, they could go through with a win over El Salvador.

GROUP SIX, Estadio La Rosaleda, Malaga. (21:00)

USSR   (1)   3   (Gavrilov 24, Blokhin 48, Baltacha 69)

NEW ZEALAND   (0)   0

USSR: Dasaev; Sulakvelidze, Baltacha, Demianenko, Chivadze; Bessonov, Gavrilov, Bal, Daraselia; Shengelia, Blokhin

New Zealand: van Hattum; Dods, Elrick, Herbert; Sumner, Cole, MacKay, Cresswell, Boath; Rufer, Wooddin

The Soviets could consider themselves unlucky against Brazil as they lead for much of the match, only to lose. New Zealand too, had shown periods of dominance over Scotland before eventually losing 2-5. Gavrilov opened the scoring after a great run by former European Footballer of the Year, Oleg Blokhin. He got to the bye-line to cross and Gavrilov eventually bundled the ball over the line.

Three minutes into the second half Blokhin finished elegantly after Shengelia missed his kick and the Soviet Union were two up. New Zealand had some good chances but were outclassed and with twenty minutes to go New Zealand tried to play offside when defending a corner but Baltacha was able to convert the cross from close range. USSR had now put themselves in with a chance of qualifying for the next round knowing their goal difference would mean a draw against Scotland would be enough. For New Zealand they had performed well in their first ever World Cup appearance but were going home. They had the small matter of a game against Brazil to look forward to though.

England, Spain and West Germany are all involved tomorrow.