Yugoslavia through to semifinals

By S.R. Suryanarayan

MARGAO, JAN. 20. Two irregular sides but Yugoslavia proved it was rungs above Romania while scripting a 2-0 win for a place in the semifinal of the Sahara Cup football tournament at the Nehru stadium, Fatorda here on Saturday.

Both goals came in the first session, key player Ilic Sasa notching the first (31st minute) and Bogdanovic Igor slamming the second during injury time. The surprise was only why Yugoslavia could not account for more goals when its domination was marked. ``It makes me happy that we are improving with every match. Our goal now is to reach the final'', said a visibly satisfied Ilija Petkovic, the Yugoslavia head coach. Petkovic admitted that Romania surprised them by playing a very tactical game but that seemed a diplomatic touch for Romania's best was to hold the rival from increasing the scoreline while hardly getting a clear view of the rival citadel. Yugoslavia awaits the winner of Japan and Jordan for its semifinal clash in Kolkata.

The Romanian coach felt that Yugoslavia was better prepared physically. ``We did try to come into to the game in the second game. Our strategy could have felled any other team but it required more time to unsettle this Yugoslavian side. I am only happy that we lost to the best team in this tournament. To me Yugoslavia will lift the Cup'', he said in all sincerity.

The way Yugoslavia's Bogdanovic had a virtual dry run at the rival end in the very second minute, showed that Romania's agony had begun. In those initial moments, Yugoslavians could scythe through rival defence repeatedly but the parting touch often eluded them. Memories of its match against Bangladesh must have returned from the way coach Petkovic was gesturing from the sidelines. Originating from the middle and progressing from the wings, the Yugoslavian attack flowered from the boots of Cirkovic or Jeremic. Only an unusual blankness marked the approach in the final moments.

Close to 20 minutes, Bogdanovic tried to relay a free kick from Ivic Vladimir, but missed the post by inches. Minutes later his header went over before Ilic Sasha finally made the most of a passing bout between Vladimir and Jeremic for the breakthrough. Hereabouts deep defender Petkovic Dusan began to show his all- round play, more like a libero. His overlapping runs, tight defence and imaginative through balls were admirable. Often he proved to be stumbling block for Romania when it tried a resurrection act in the second session.

Then came Cirkovic's selfless effort to cap his good show as he moved in clear of the rival defenders and pulled the ball back when he could himself have taken a shy. Bogdanovic was to make a meal of it, a low right-footer to leave Eugen beaten to his right.

The free flow ended with the resumption, Romania bringing in Luca Ioan and Zahriue Liviu to improve its midfield while adding teeth to its frontline. The Yugoslavian runs abated even as the exchanges levelled out. It was a battle of tactics now with each trying to seek that elusive goalward path. Romania nearly botched up its good work when Chibulcutean tripped substitute Vaskovic Boris in the box. Yugoslavian goalkeeper Lucic Zarko tried to emulate his Paraguan counterpart Chilavert by taking the spot kick, only to target the bar. Fatigue caught on gradually but what Yugoslavia will regret in that final moments is Sasa's foolish act of kicking the ball away after referee Balu Sundaraj had whistled, to earn a yellow card.

``This is his second'', confirmed Petkovic and that could be bad news for the aspirant. In addition, goalkeeper Zarko also earned a card as also Romania's Sasu Marius and Lucian.

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