International Soccer

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31985, 12 May 1969, Page 19

International Soccer

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

NUREMBERG (West Germany)

West Germany beat Austria. 1-0, in a World Cup soccer qualifying match on Saturday. G. Mueller scored the only goal in the eighty-eighth minute. West Germany now has seven points from four games, while Scotland has five points from three games. The two countries will meet in Germany on October 8 in a match which will almost certainly decide which team qualifies for the World Cup in Mexico next year. In Britain, England beat Scotland, 4-1, in London to retain the British soccer championship, and Northern ‘ Ireland drew with Wales, 0-0, in Belfast.

England produced a display befitting a world champion side to crush Scotland. G. Hurst and M. Peters, who scored all England’s goals in the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany, repeated this feat, scoring two goals each. Scotland, often brilliant individually but lacking England s smooth teamwork, scored its only goal just before half-time when the centre-forward C. Stein, netted with a brilliant

Northern Ireland's draw with Wales gave it third place in the four-nation championship, with Wales last.

A thin crowd of 12.500 watched Ireland's brilliant strikers, D. Dougan and G. Best, struggle for their footing in the heavy mud, saturated by steady downpours throughout the morning. The nimble-footed Best often slipped past the Welsh defenders, who performed so brilliantly against England on Wednesday, but the Manchester United wizard was unable to get enough grip from the pitch to put the ball into the net.