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Blond ambition
Romanians draw with Tunisia, advance to 2nd round
Posted: Thursday September 24, 1998 05:43 PM
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Liviu Ciobotariu of Romania on the ball during the World Cup group G game against Tunisia. The match ended 1-1 David Cannon/Allsport |
ST. DENIS, France (CNN/SI)
-- Memo to the Romanian team:
Try drawing attention to your team with your play, not your hair.
Romania hit the field before its match with Tunisia
sporting the popular hairdo of the day -- the platinum blonde look - and
for much of the game that was the only thing about the Romanian team that
stood out. Needing just a draw to win Group G, Romania had its hands
full for much of the match, waiting until late in the match before securing
the top spot in the group.
Second-half substitute Viorel Moldovan put home a loose ball in the
penalty area in the 72nd minute and Romania managed a 1-1 draw with
Tunisia, earning a second-round match with Croatia.
The draw gave Romania a 2-1-0 record, seven points and the Group G
title, avoiding a meeting with Argentina.
Instead, Romania will play Croatia in Bordeaux on Tuesday.
"The poor organization of our defense in the first half was due to the
changes I decided to make," said Romanian coach Anghel Iordanescu, who
shaved his head as part of the pledge. "This almost derailed the game of
the entire team in general. Those who replaced the regulars lacked ambition
and freshness."
Moldovan, who replaced Ilie Dumitrescu only five minutes earlier,
finished a play that started when Gheorge Popescu sent a free kick from
midfield into the Romanian end. Adrian Ilie, who appeared to be offside,
chased it down and chipped the ball over Tunisian keeper Chorki el
Ouaer.
Tunisian defender Ferid Chouchane headed the ball away, but not far
enough. The ball bounded to Moldovan, who volleyed it into the goal.
Moldovan's goal came after 10 minutes of sustained possession and
pressure by Romania, its first consistent offensive effort of the
match.
For most of the first half, the Tunisians were in control and led from
the 10th minute, when Skander Souayah converted a penalty kick. Souayah
drove his chance into the lower left corner after Christian Dulca was
whistled for dragging down Adel Sellimi.
For the Tunisians, the result was some consolation after disappointing
losses to England and Colombia that
cost Polish-born coach Henry Kasperczak his job.
"The first half was the best moment we had out of the three matches.
We had to go home with honor, having scored at least one goal," coach Ali
Selmi said.
For at least 71 minutes, there was even hope of victory.
"Against Romania, we showed the best side of Tunisian soccer,"
defender Ferid Chouchane said.
Lineups
Romania: Bogdan Stelea; Dan Petrescu, Cristian Dulca (Gheorghe
Popescu, 33rd minute), Anton Dobos, Liviu Ciobotariu; Constantin Galca,
Dorinel Munteanu, Gheorghe Hagi, Lucian Marinescu; Ilie Dumitrescu (Viorel
Moldovan, 67th), Marius Lacatus (Adrian Ilie, 46th).
Tunisia: Chokri el Ouaer; Sami Trabelsi, Mounir Boukadida,
Ferid Chouchane, Zoubaier Baya; Kaies Ghodbane (Tarek Thabet, 83rd), Riadh
Bouazizi, Sirajeddine Chihi, Skander Souayah (Imed Ben Younes, 92nd); Adel
Sellimi, Mehdi Slimane Ben (Riadh Jelassi, 55th).
Referee: Edward Lennie, Australia.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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