Saudis triumph in cliffhanger

Press, 26 April 1984, Page 40

Saudis triumph in cliffhanger

After the dull, slowmotion New ZealandBahrain game, the Group A finale between South Korea and Saudi Arabia was a classic exhibition of freeflowing, all-action soccer.

Korea, arguably the best team in the tournament, needed a win to take the group and a place in the Los Angeles Olympics. Two goals in the opening 18 minutes including a scorching 40 metre volley from Park Kyung Boon, gave the Koreans a sublime start. By the time the pace had settled (after about 30 minutes) it seemed the Koreans would hold on.

Then the urgency was not there, the team of young, fast footballers — all under 24 years of age and all capable of running under 12s for 100 m — lost some of their concentration, the Saudis pounced and got a goal back by the break.

The ace Saudi striker, Mehaisen Aldosari, equalised within two minutes of the restart, but an own goal then gave the lead back to Korea. The referee, Sudarso Hardjowasito (having his first game in the middle) then awarded the Saudis a controversial penalty when Majed Mohammed was brought down. Clearly though, Majed had committed the first offence when he held a Korean defender.

Majed levelled from the spot. At 3-3 the game was back on the boil.

Majed scored in the sixtysixth minute, but the Korean substitute, Kil Yong, made it 4-4 nine minutes later and then, with just minutes to play, Majed made the break. Saleh AlDossari charged through and scooped the ball into the net and the gallant Saudis were through to Los Angeles.