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Petrescu wrestles Romania to win
Draw slips through England's legs in final minute
Posted: Monday June 22, 1998 06:52 PM
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Agony and ecstasy! England goalkeeper David Seaman can only watch after allowing Viorel Moldovan (9) to score the winning goal (AP) |
TOULOUSE, France (AP) --
Dan Petrescu put the ball in the net while wrestling with a defender,
scoring the winning goal in the 90th minute as Romania
qualified for the second round of the World Cup with a 2-1 victory over England.
Charging toward the goal within the penalty area, Petrescu held back
Graeme Le Saux -- his teammate on the English club Chelsea -- by putting
his right arm across Le Saux' neck. Then Petrescu slid his left foot in
front of the defender to poke the ball between the legs of goalkeeper David
Seaman.
The victory put Romania in first place in Group G and left England's
fate resting on its final first-round game against Colombia on
Friday. The result also eliminates last-place Tunisia.
"We didn't take our chances, yet we gave them some ridiculous chances and
they took them," England coach Glenn Hoddle said. "Now we know what we have
got to do against Colombia."
Eighteen-year-old Michael Owen, who became the youngest player ever to
score for England in a World Cup warmup against Morocco,
appeared to save his team with an 83rd-minute goal. Owen, who entered the
game in the second half, also hit the left post from 30 yards in
second-half injury time.
"I'd rather draw 1-1 and not score," Owen said. "Not winning the match was
a bitter disappointment."
Gheorghe Hagi, 33 years old and playing his 112th international, set
up England-based forward Viorel Moldovan for the goal that gave Romania the
lead two minutes after halftime. Hagi chipped from the right to the
Coventry striker, who chested the ball down and slotted it past Seaman from
six yards.
Owen equalized by sliding to the turf to net a right-footed shot after
Paul Scholes had knocked down Alan Shearer's cross from the right.
The game was a potential flashpoint for fan violence following the
riots that surrounded England's game last week against Tunisia.
There was only one scoring threat in the first half. Adrain Ilie's
soft, looping shot kissed off the front of the crossbar in the 27th
minute.
As kickoff time approached, English fans got drunk and rowdy, pounding
on the sides of passing trucks and leaping onto cars to wave flags. A
British journalist was attacked by five hooligans and was hospitalized with
a broken collar bone.
Lineups
England: David Seaman; Tony Adams, Sol Campbell, Graeme le
Saux, Gary Neville; Darren Anderton, David Batty, Paul Ince (David Beckham,
33rd), Paul Scholes; Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham (Michael Owen,
73rd).
Romania: Bogdan Stelea; Dan Petrescu, Gheorghe Popescu, Liviu
Ciobotariu, Constantin Galca; Dorinel Munteanu, Gheorghe Hagi (Ovidiu
Stanga, 73rd; Lucien Marinescu, 84th), Gabriel Popescu, Iulian Filipescu;
Viorel Moldovan (Marius Lacatus, 87th) , Adrian Ilie.
Referee: Marc Batta, France.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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