Classic Games (5): 1986: USSR

Belanov¡¯s three not enough to beat brave Belgium

The Soviet Union, known historically as an efficient if somewhat uninspired outfit, arrived at the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico? as outside favourites to take the laurels. And with nine scintillating starters from Dynamo Kiev¡¯s outstanding treble-winning club side, there was no reason to doubt their supporters.

In their last world finals hustling under the hammer and sickle, the Soviets tore an early swath of destruction through the group phase, drawing France 1-1 before shutting out Hungary and Canada, massing nine goals in three matches. Jean-Pierre Papin¡¯s strike in the classic clash with the European champions was the only goal the Soviets conceded in the group phase. And up against sympathetic Belgium in the Round of Sixteen, Valery Lobanovsky¡¯s men were nothing short of rampaging favourites.

In the sharpest of contrasts, Guy Thys¡¯ Belgium were fairly anonymous survivors from the first round in Mexico¡¯s second finals. Qualifying for the knockout phase as one of the top third-place finishers, they were rated for little more than outstanding goalkeeper Jean Marie Pfaff and Enzo Scifo¡¯s occasionally brilliant orchestrations. It looked to everyone a mismatch from start.

Intense Russian heat
Upsetting preconceived notions about football from behind the Iron Curtain, the Soviets moved the ball with a flash and brilliance that made even some of the worldly, Western nations jealous. There was nothing stoic or stodgy about this fast-moving side. And Igor Belanov, with his wispy frame and tragic balding crown, roared into attack from the opening whistle. Preferred by Lobanovsky to aging legend Oleg Blokhin, the striker was the joker in the pack. And from the start, he began to link beautifully with playmaker and Kiev-mate Alexandre Zavarov to force the confused Belgian rearguard into some nervous early moments.

The Soviets poured forward with crisp, short passes and a subtlety unexpected from the windy, inhospitable climes of Eastern Europe. And when fullback Vasily Rats sauntered forward, the Belgians were on high alert and swallowing hard. His searing, long-range drives had jaws agape since the tournament got underway.
But Italian-born youngster Scifo, arguably Belgium¡¯s finest-ever footballer, was showing flashes of his enigmatic brilliance. His early free kick hardly troubled the Soviet goalkeeper though -- decked all in yellow, Rinat Dassaiev is the natural heir to old Lev Yashin and hands-down the best Soviet keeper since the legendary ¡°Black Spider¡±

Knowing full well they are in for a fight, the Belgians choose to sit back and absorb pressure. Looking uneasy, each callow pass back to Jean-Marie Pfaff is met with disdainful whistles and catcalls from the shrewd crowd. They look to attack on the break, but only rarely, soaking heaps of pressure from the formidable Russians.

Belgium¡¯s thin shell cracks
Soon though the Red Devils learn their stingy, but porous defensive wall is of no use anyway. Zavarov, roving as ever, breaks in and slips a delicate, almost dainty, through ball to Belanov cutting across the edge of the box on a diagonal run. Under pressure and swivelling his body unnaturally, he fires back and to the top corner. Pfaff, one of the finals¡¯ finest keepers, could only watch with dread and admiration as the ball slams off the post and in. Belanov races back to midfield in celebration as the Soviets look to be on their way in minute 27.

Belgium, looking barely up for a fight, still rely completely on the counter-attack for their opportunities. But they are few and far between as the first half draws to a close. Pfaff, now with a cap on to shield his eyes from the scorching Leon sun, had to race off his line and out of the box to deny Belanov a clear chance. It is obvious ¨C the keeper is keeping Belgium alive. If they are to survive, it is he who must carry the standard.

As the sides emerge from interval, the Soviets pick up right where they left off. Belanov is again leading the charge as a giant shadow creep ominously across the pitch, nearly dissecting the green grass in sun and shade.

Wasted chances spell Soviet doom
Early in the half Pavel Yakovenko breaks into space and crosses for Belanov at the near post. Alone, the little Dynamo from Kiev can only head against the post. Pfaff breathes a quick sigh of relief, but the ball spills to the edge of the box and Zavarov is there to fire low at the gaping goal. But it is to be another let off for Belgium as Daniel Veyt clears bravely off the line.

Just as all looks lost for Belgium, Scifo appears alone at the back post in minute 56. Uninvolved for large chunks of the match, the previously watertight Soviet backline is caught napping. Frankie Vercauteren¡¯s cross finds the Italian, who even has time to bring the ball down before slamming past Dassaiev.
With a new charge to the match, Belgium are back in the running. But it is brilliant Belanov, who went on to win European Footballer of the Year honours for 1986, who races through to put the Soviets out front once more. Again Zavarov slips is the providers. Slipping the ball through, the marauding striker managed to squeeze the ball beneath the diving Pfaff and inside the far post.

And with only 17 minutes to go, the result looks safe. Playmaker Zavarov is substituted. Though Lobanovsky is beyond reproach, it seems a gamble. And straight away, the Soviet defence is caught sleeping once more. In minute 77, a long ball from the back finds captain Jan Coulemans alone in acres of space. Bringing the ball down with his chest and turning, he fired to the far post to equalise. As the veteran celebrates, there is more than a sneering suspicion of offside from the grizzled Soviet defenders.

Suddenly, the crowd begin to have their say too. ¡°Belgica, Belgica¡± is the roar as the locals choose to back the underdogs. Even with the support, the outsiders though are forced to circle the wagons against a fierce Soviet onslaught. And after a bit of skilful interplay, Ivan Yaremchuk hammered his shot off Pfaff¡¯s crossbar ¨C twice denied by the woodwork. Pfaff looked to have got his fingertips to it.

Belgium bring the pain
But at the very death, it is the Belgians who nearly break the deadlock. Scifo is again free at the back post, but Dassaiev disdainfully punches away at full stretch. He winces in pain after slamming into the post, earning a rare show of warmth and affection from battling captain Anatoli Demianenko.

As the two sides lie on the steaming pitch awaiting the agony of extra-time, Guy Thys desperately coaxes his men for the 30-minute fight to come. Lobanovsky remains silent and confident, but without Zavarov, Belanov is on his own in attack. Perhaps the respected boss¡¯s substitution was a bit premature.

Pfaff answers his manager¡¯s battle cry by handling everything that comes into his area. As fatigue and exhaustion begin to take their toll, the match goes end-to-end. The crowd, always warming to the plucky Belgians, begin to chant ¡°Pfaff, Pfaff, Pfaff.¡± And suddenly from nothing, a Belgian goal. A quick corner comes to Eric Gerets, who hoofs a hopeful cross to the back post where Stephane DeMol¡¯s driven header leaves Dassaiev with no hope. He was completely unmarked, and Belgium take the lead for the first time in the match. The whistle goes to mark the end of the first overtime period, and Russia¡¯s great hope Belanov is looking tired and forlorn as the teams switch ends.

The Russian disposition is not helped by another Belgian goal. Dassaiev is left to go it alone as the Soviets send every man forward in a desperate attacking raid. Nico Claesen flicks the ball up in the box, substitute Leo Clijsters heads down and Claesen turns to hammer home on the volley. The Belgian celebrations are raucous, and the Soviets look done for at 4-2.

A sad hat trick for Belanov
But almost immediately, inspired by adversity, Belanov breaks loose only to be hauled down unceremoniously in the area. He steps up to take the spot kick. The heroic Pfaff gets a paw too it, but it is too hot to handle. The score is now 4-3 and all is not lost as Belanov gets his deserved hat trick.

Dassaiev does his best to keep the Belgians out, shouting to his men to continue their siege. But Rats, Belanov, and co. cannot find the desperate equaliser. In the fading seconds, substitute Yevtushenko chips extravagantly from a tough angle. Pfaff looks to be caught out, but manages to tip the ball over the bar. There is no time left for a corner as the whistle goes.
The red-clad Belgians celebrated wildly, saluting the generous crowd. They went on to beat Emilio Buetragueno, Michel and hotly talented Spain in the quarter-final, before seeing their wild ride come to a screeching halt when they ran into Argentina¡¯s Diego Armando Maradona in the semi-final.

And Belanov, who put the Soviets on his shoulders, wearily trudged off the pitch after what must surely be the most unsatisfying hat trick in FIFA World Cup History.