By Lawrie Schwab
First published in The Age on July 15, 1988
Socceroos humble Argentines 4-1
Frank Arok’s Socceroos achieved one of the greatest triumphs in Australian sport last night when they beat the 1978 and 1986 world champions, Argentina, 4-1 to burst into the final of the Bicentennial Gold Cup.
Charlie Yankos on the attack against Argentina in 1988.Credit:SMH Archives
Australia will meet Brazil in Sydney on Sunday in what promises to be a box office bonanza.
Last night’s match at Sydney Football Stadium ended with the disgruntled Argentines refusing to shake hands with their opponents and skulking from the field, police pouncing on a lout in the middle of the pitch and the Socceroos cantering jubilantly around the edge of the ground rejoicing their victory.
The result reflected all the qualities that Arok has perfected during his five years as coach – fanatical, relentless pressuring, speed and mental toughness.
Although they took the lead after only four minutes, the Socceroos looked doomed when Argentina equalised as a result of superior skills and interpassing in the 32nd minute.
But Australian captain Charlie Yankos drained the Argentines of much of their resolve with a sensational 30-metre goal that restored Australia’s lead two minutes before half-time.
Argentina v Australia on July 14, 1988.Credit:SMH Archives
The nature of Australia’s play was best illustrated in the 59th minute when, pressurised in defence by four Argentines, almost all the Socceroos dropped back and with a huge effort managed to force the ball away from the danger zone.
Then came an Australian penalty, converted by Yankos, and the crowd began chanting: “We want four, we want four.” Vlado Bozinovski, playing his first full game for Australia, obliged by heading the fourth goal 10 minutes from the end.
The match was delayed for 20 minutes to enable fans to get through traffic jams outside the ground. The official crowd was 18,983 – but that figure will almost certainly be surpassed against Brazil on Sunday.
The opening goal was the result of the first free kick of the match. The ball went to Scott Ollerenshaw, whose square pass in to the middle was missed by defender Claudio Cabrera, enabling Graham Arnold to flick a cheeky back heeler over which goalkeeper Luis Islas and defender Nestor Lorenzo got into a tangle. Bozinovski challenged for the ball and it ran loose to Paul Wade, who scored with a low shot, while Argentines protested that Islas had been fouled.
The Socceroos won the match 4-1.Credit:SMH Archives
Argentina came back with a vengeance, Sergio Batista setting the scene with a header that dipped wickedly over the bar and rolled down outside of the net.
Jose Rodriguez, broke away four minutes later, avoiding a challenge by Yankos inside the penalty are and managing a shot after another challenge by Graham Jennings. By then he was off balance and goalkeeper Geoff Oliver held the shot.
A determined Australia clawed its way back up the field. A quick forward lob by Alan Davidson found Frank Farina in the 18th minute by Farina’s volley whistled the past the post.
Referee Gary Power, who awarded a total of 47 free kicks – 28 to Argentina and 19 to Australia – made a mistake when he showed the yellow card to Wally Savor over a foul that had been committed by Scott Ollerenshaw. Mario Lucca sent the free kick to the far post and Rodriguez laid it into the path of the captain Oscar Ruggeri who equalised from close range.
Argentina was in complete control as the first half edged to a close, but then came the free kick by Yankos. The Australian captain and referee Power took almost two minutes to make the Argentine defensive wall retreat the mandatory 10 metres. When it finally did so, Yankos went bang and a sizzling shot swerved past the bewildered goalkeeper to give Yankos only his second goal in full international matches.
Although he found the going tough, Bozinovski, who was filling in for the injured playmaker Oscar Crino, almost scored before the interval with a shot turned desperately for a corner.
Olver and Yankos went down in heavy clashes but recovered, as did Robby Dunn who was kicked by Batista, in a nasty incident on the touchline during which players converged from all sides, and Islas ran 50 metres before clashing with Farina.
Yankos cleared off his goal line in the 64th minute after a free kick from Toribio Aquino had bounced off Olver, and two minutes later he was at the other end to convert Australia’s penalty. It was awarded because Farina, who had made a long solo run on a through ball from Arnold, was clipped from behind by Oscar Garre.
With 10 minutes to go, Farina delayed the ball on the right wing before slipping it to Wade, whose cross was headed home at the far post by Bozinovski for goal number four.
Argentina staged a late onslaught, during which Yankos again cleared from inside the six metres area, and Aquino shot over the bar from close range.
Argentina’s coach, Carlos Bilardo, failed to attend the post-match news conference.
Arok said: “I am not sure whether I am dreaming. It has not hit me yet. Never did we imagine that we could score four goals against the world champions. We were aiming for one.”
