Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 9, 1990 TAG: 9007090131
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The New York Times
DATELINE: ROME LENGTH: Medium
In the lowest-scoring final in World Cup history, the West Germans reversed the outcome of four years ago in Mexico, prevailing on a penalty kick in the 84th minute.
Never before had finalists combined for fewer than three goals, and never before had any of them finished the game with fewer players than when they started.
Argentina, a team that fouled with ease and frequency throughout the tournament, had begun the game without four regulars who had accumulated two yellow cards for violent play, then lost two more in the second half for vicious play.
Pedro Monzon, a 46th-minute substitute, earned a dubious place in soccer history 18 minutes later when referee Edgardo Codesal of Mexico gave him a red card for a brutal tackle on Jurgen Klinsmann.
That made Monzon the first player expelled from a final.
While the game was an artistic bore, devoid of creativity and tension befitting an event being watched by more than 1 billion people around the world, including 73,603 in Rome's Olympic Stadium, West Germany dominated all phases of play except the fouls.
In joining Italy and Brazil as the only countries to win the championship three times, West Germany held a 16-1 advantage in shots and shut down Argentine star Diego Maradona.
Argentina's best scoring opportunity came late in the first half when Jurgen Kohler, a West German defender, sent the ball back to his goalkeeper, Bodo Illgner, and hit it a little too high. Illgner retreated quickly to make a leaping catch and prevent an own goal.
The game's goal came in the 84th minute when Stefan Reuter brought the ball up the right side for West Germany. He passed to Lothar Matthaeus, whose through ball found Rudi Voeller in the penalty area, 15 yards from the goal. Defender Roberto Sensini tried to take the ball from Voeller from behind and tripped him.
Six minutes later, the harsh reality for Argentina was the sight of Maradona, 29, the wizard of Mexico four years ago, weeping while the winners acted out the usual rituals of ultimate achievement.
Guido Buchwald, a defender who stands a full head taller than Maradona, controlled the 5-foot-5 midfielder brilliantly, more often by marking him tightly than by denying him the ball.
Maradona's task was made all the more difficult by the absence of teammate Claudio Caniggia, one of the four players who received a second yellow card for the tournament in Argentina's semifinal victory over Italy.
West Germany's coach paid tribute to his players.
"From our first match to the last, our players performed at the highest level," said Franz Beckenbauer, who became the first man to win a World Cup as a team captain (1974) and coach. "We did that again today. There were no doubts whatsoever who was going to win."
by CNB