CLASSIC WORLD CUP ENCOUNTERS

MEXICO 1986, Second Round: Belgium v Soviet Union



The teams had reached the second phase in very different circumstances. The Soviet Union had won group C convincingly following wins against Canada and Hungary and a draw with France. Belgium had had to rely on being one of the four best third-placed teams (in the six groups) who made it through to the knock-out stages. They lost their group opener to host nation Mexico before beating Iraq and drawing with Paraguay. The Soviets were clear favourites when the two countries met on the dramatic afternoon of June 15 in Leon, with a place in the last eight at stake.

The Soviets began positively, moving the ball intelligently in and around the Belgium box with slick passing, while their opponents were restricted in the early exchanges mainly to set pieces and shots from distance. It was in keeping with the balance of the game when Igor Belanov shot the Soviets ahead in the 27th minute with a superb strike across the goalkeeper from outside the penalty area.

If the Soviet Union had been able to press home their advantage and add a second goal in that first half, then it may well have put the match beyond the reach of Belgium. But their impressive build-up play wasn't matched by a cutting edge in front of goal and chances were wasted. The Soviets were punished ten minutes into the second half for some slack defending that gave Enzo Scifo an eternity inside the box to control Frank Vercauteren's floated cross and equalize.

Although the Soviets restored their lead - again through Belanov - in the 70th minute, there was something increasingly tenacious about Belgium as the match wore on. Belanov received the ball from Aleksandr Zavarov and clipped his shot perfectly past Pfaff to put his side within sight of the quarter-finals, but the Belgians were a team growing in belief, and the crowd could sense it. The Soviet rearguard was again at fault in the 77th minute when a long ball forward from Demol found captain Jan Ceulemans with time to chest the ball down, turn and finish adroitly to level the match for a second time.

The Soviet Union were looking vulnerable as extra time loomed. A last minute free kick in a threatening position was wasted, and there was a growing sense that their chance had come and gone.

Belgium took the lead for the first time 12 minutes into extra time when the highly impressive Stephane Demol exposed the frailties of the Soviet defence yet again to find the space to power a superb header past goalkeeper Dasaev from an Eric Gerets delivery from the right hand side. The game appeared to be settled when Nico Claesen reacted first to a loose ball in the Soviet penalty area to add a fourth with just 10 minutes remaining. Amazingly, however, within a minute Igor Belanov had completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot. The Soviet Union rallied in desperate search of an equalizer to take the match to penalties, but Belgium hung on to book a quarter-final place.

A game of great goals and high drama - memorable for all the right reasons. How many times does a player score a hat-trick and end up on the losing side? Belanov had an outstanding match, but his team's potential remained unfulfilled. Some will argue that the Soviets would have graced the latter stages of Mexico 1986, but football is not only about skill. Belgium were twice behind but came through - a triumph of stamina and tenacity over the Soviet Union's superior brand of attacking football.

Belgium met Spain in the quarter-finals and beat them on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Maradona and Argentina lay in wait in the semi-final and proved too strong for Ceulemans and co, the South Americans and eventual tournament winners progressing to the Final by virtue of a 2-0 victory.