ATWC : GROUP F

The group, the schedule, the stadiums, the squads, the games (please click on the pictures for a better view).

THE GAMES

DAY 1 

HUNGARY - ROMANIA at Estadio Monumental U, Lima, Peru (80.000)

HUNGARY - ROMANIA : 3 - 2 (0 - 0 HT)

A poor first half as both teams neutralized each other if they don't have neutralized themselves, actually. A deflagration of goals in the second half... to the advantage of Hungary.

Hagi scored a magnificient lobbed goal and Puskas gratified us with a cannonball shot that only him can offer in such fashion... with the left, of course. Hungary owe their victory to his partnership with Kocsis which did wonders in the second half.

Was the Danubian Derby already decisive ? Let's see.

GOALS (Kocsis, Hagi, Puskas, Raducioiu, Kocsis)

49' : Puskas shoots in the legs of Sefanescu... the ball arrives in the Kocsis' feet, who scores with the right foot.

59' : Hagi receives the ball on the left side of the pitch... he is not attacked... and scores with a 25 meters lobbed goal ! What a magnificient goal !

62' : Puskas, with a cannonball !

81' : on a long ball perfectly kicked by Popescu, Raducioiu controls the ball, advances towards the goals, beats Meszöly to ultimately beat Grosics.

88' : Kocsis, served by Puskas (left-footed shot).

Yellow cards : Sipos (52').

Man of the Match : looks like Puskas was the man of the match.

RATINGS :

Hungary :

Grosics 5 - Matrai 4 - G. Sarosi 5 - Meszoly 5 - L. Sarosi 5 - Bozsik 5 - Sipos 5 - Bene 5 (Szoboszlai 79') - Kocsis 7 - Puskas 7 - Kubala 4,5 (Czibor 60'). Tot. : 57,5.

Romania :

Lung 4 - Petrescu 5,5 - Stefanescu 4,5 - Belodedici 4 - Chivu 5,5 - Popescu 5 - Dobrin 3,5 (Rednic 46') - Bölöni 5,5 - Balaci 5 - Hagi 6,5 - Mutu 4,5 (Raducioiu 66'). Tot. : 53,5

Grosics : he noticeably saved a Bölöni's attempt from long range in the first half, punched the ball with the fist on a couple of corner-kicks and conceded two goals including one against which he strictly could not do anything.

Matraï : he did not brang anything offensively and surely it was no part of the Hungarian tactics on this one (not a pre-match instruction).

G. Sarosi : lined-up as a centre-half, "Dr. Sarosi" shown great composure and was not directly involved in the Romanian goals, about which, nothing could be done, ultimately.

Meszoly : he's been somehow posterized on the second Romanian goal but nothing can be reproached to him.

L. Sarosi : had quite a good game.

Sipos : he had much to do and did not do too badly.

Bozsik : a game of two halves with a first one during which he was in total control of what he does and a second one during which Balaci and Bölöni payed him back in their own coin.

Kubala : in an unusual role of outside left, Kubala did not particularly shine. He cruelly lacked pace (is he just out of form or is he injured?). The only positive point is that it was always almost impossible to steal the ball from him. Replaced by Czibor who took his chance with brio.

Puskas : his partnership (or non-partnership) with Kubala handicaped him during the first half. Then, we found back Puskas as we know him : passer and scorer. He clearly decided on the outcome of this match.

Kocsis : he did not always played as a target-man but also started his actions deeper on the field, from the half-way line to the 25 yards zone. His partnership with Puskas was perfectly oiled-up, in that second half.

Bene : confined to the right wing, he never was a menace for Lung and never really thrown Chivu out of balance. He had a serious game though, making no mistake as the right-piston of his team. Replaced by Szoboszlai who replicated the same exact performance at the scale of the last 12 minutes.

Lung : since the Puskas-Kocsis duet was set in motion, he was not looking his best, suddenly.

Petrescu : he could have done more in the first half as he had some space to do so. He did in the second half when he took place at midfield instead of Dobrin as Rednic replaced the latter.

Stefanescu : that Puskas cannonball shot brushed past his ear !

Belodedici : we did not recognize the great libero of Red Star Belgrad. The shadow Hungarian strikers were not easy to mark and Kocsis clearly took the best on him when advancing towards the goals.

Chivu : had quite a good game. Except that he lost.

Popescu : on defense, only Bölöni tried to help him. On offense, he's the passer on the goal of Raducioiu with a long pass.

Dobrin : a ghost-like performance (although we saw some hints of his technique). As seen above, he was subbed-out.

Bölöni : a serious game that places him beyond any reproach.

Balaci : more in verve than Dobrin on the opposite side of the pitch. But inconstant over 90 minutes. Both attacking midfielders have a preference for the left hand of the midfield and the staff thought that Dobrin would adapt on the right more easily than Balaci. It was not that easy apparently thus, Balaci looked better. As to know if he really was "in verve" or if it's just some irony? Well, the answer has been given away now, if there was any doubt.

Hagi : first of, this has not escaped you, Hagi scored a brilliant goal. More globally, the Romanian genius had a good game as a shadow striker who also took on the responsabilties in the playmaking department - when he could.

Mutu : he was replaced by Raducioiu who managed to accomplish what himself was unable to do... scoring one goal. It's true that there was more space (and more rythm, to start with) during the second half though.

ECUADOR - UNITED STATES at La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina (58.000+)

ECUADOR - UNITED STATES : 1 - 1

The USMNT get by fine in a Bombonera touall committed to the Ecuadorians. Both teams had the same number of chances and could have hope a better outcome. The Ecuadorians had more shots on target though and Howard was the author of one miraculous save.

Thus, the continuous heated atmosphere from the stands did not have an impact on the scoreline after half-time.

GOALS (Delgado, Patenaude)

8' : cross by Valencia, Spencer misses it, but Delgado, as the second blade, put it in the nets, with the head.

41' : Patenaude got the equalizer from a pass by Dempsey who cutted in what seemed to be an unpenetrable defense until then.

Yellow Cards : De La Cruz (34'), McKennie (70'), Harkes (75'), Estupiñan (81').

Man of the Match : Tim Howard seemed unbeatable tonight.

RATINGS :

Ecuador :

Cevallos 5,5 - De La Cruz 5,5 - Hincapie 5 - Hurtado 5 - Estupiñan 4,5 - A. Valencia 6 (Mendez 78') - M. Caicedo 5,5 (E. Tenorio 75') - Ayovi 5 - Aguinaga 4 - Spencer 4 - Delgado 6 (E. Valencia 80'). Tot. :56.

United States :

Howard 8 - Cherundolo 5,5 - Pope 5 - Dooley 5 - Bocanegra 5 - McKennie 4,5 - Harkes 4,5 - Dempsey 6 - Donovan 4,5 (C. Jones 74') - Patenaude 5,5 (McBride 69') - Wynalda 3,5 (Lalas 46'). Tot. : 57.