Argentina pips host nation

Press, 23 September 1988, Page 20

Argentina pips host nation

NZPA-Reuter Seoul The Argentine striker, Nestor Ariel Fabbri, broke South Korean hearts yesterday when he scored the goal that sent the host nation crashing out of the Olympic soccer tournament. Argentina, needing a win to qualify for the quarter-finals from group C, looked a demoralised side until Fabbri’s solo effort in the seventy-third minute.

His goal carried them to a 2-1 victory over the Koreans who paid dearly for their poor finishing. The Soviet Union eased into the last eight with a 4-2 victory over the United States, who were a point ahead of Argentina before yesterday’s group matches. South Korea, the Asian Games champion, was technically superior but lacked bite in front of goal.

It lost the unluckiest of goals in the third minute. The ball took wicked bounces off two South Korean defenders and fell obligingly to the unmarked . Carlos Alfaro Moreno. A crisp build-up put the wing, Noh Soo-jin, through for the equaliser after 14 minutes It had its chances to put the match beyond the Argentines’ reach before

Fabbri silenced the vociferous capacity crowd with the winner. Dynamo Kiev’s Alexei put the Soviet Union on the way to victory with a sixth minute goal and added a second with a delicate lob. Arminas Narbekovas and Igor Dobrovolski (penalty) were their other target men. The lively Brent Goulet and John Doyle scored for the Americans.