13 June 1998
MEXICO 3-1 SOUTH KOREA 1
Pelaez 50 Ha Seok-ju 28
Hernandez 75, 84
A non eventful first 20 minutes was lifted with another own goal, this time
Ha Seok-Ju’s free kick struck Davino and sailed past Campos. Minutes later
Ha Seok-Ju was sent off for a foul from behind and eventually Mexico’s numerical
advantage swung the game in their favour. Substitute Pelaez whacked in a loose
ball from a corner and Hernandez came to life with two goals, with the ‘keeper
challenging him for Ramirez’s cross he leapt up and hooked the ball into the
bottom of the net, absolutely awesome finish, he then turned and shot low from
Blanco’s pass. Blanco sent the crowd into raptures with two great circus tricks -
Kangaroo kicks, he trapped the ball with both feet and jumped past defenders
before releasing the ball, great trick but ultimately unproductive. Despite a
treacherous haircut, Hernandez looked fantastic.
Attendance : 39,133
HOLLAND 0-0 BELGIUM
Holland’s predictable attacks weren’t good enough to break down a resolute
Belgium defence. Kluivert was sent off for elbowing Staelens. Terrible game, only
marginally better than Denmark vs Saudi Arabia.
Same Holland, pass, pass, pass, too much passing, lots of wing play and instead of
delivering crosses when the wingers/players get into good positions they pass to
the forwards again, by this time everyone is back defending. Until Holland learn to
play a more direct style they are going nowhere fast.
Red Card(s) : Kluivert 80 (Holland)
Attendance : 80,000
20 June 1998
MEXICO 2-2 BELGIUM
Garcia Aspe 55 (Pen) Wilmots 42, 47
Blanco 62
Wilmots brace gave Belgium a seemingly comfortable two goal cushion, the first
from Oliveira’s corner, the second a chip from close range after the ball broke
kindly to him from an attempted tackle after he made a run into the heart of the
Mexican defence. Ramirez took a dive in the box, Garcia Aspe converted the
penalty. Mexico punished Belgium’s offside trap for the equaliser, substitute
Arellano's through ball found Ramirez, he crossed from the edge of the box and
Blanco scored with a spectacular diving volley, one of the best goals I’ve ever
seen. Two red cards for what could loosely be described as fouls.
Red Card(s) : Pardo 29 (Mexico), Verheyen 55 (Belgium)
Attendance : 35,200
HOLLAND 5-0 SOUTH KOREA
Cocu 36
Overmars 40
Bergkamp 70
Van Hooijdonk 78
Ronald De Boer 82
Cocu began the route with a shot from the edge of the box. Holland’s second came
from a counter-attack from a South Korea corner, Overmars cut inside the box and
squeezed a shot into the bottom corner. Bergkamp scored with a toe poke from
close range, Van Hooijdonk added a fourth with a header and Ronald De Boer
completed the scoring after the Dutch put together a 15 pass move.
Terrible defending by South Korea. The type of performance Holland gave against
minnows in the World Cup qualifiers, basically the scoreline reflects the quality of
opposition.
Attendance : 55,000
25 June 1998
HOLLAND 2-2 MEXICO 2
Cocu 3 Pelaez 74
Ronald De Boer 18 Hernandez 94
Bergkamp with his back to play received a pass, flicked the ball up, turned and
then toe poked an inch perfect pass to Cocu who calmly slotted into the bottom
right corner. Best pass of the World Cup so far. Mexico failed to deal with a
routine cross into the box and Ronald De Boer steered the ball in from close
range. Pelaez headed in a corner, the Dutch failed to deal with a punt upfield
and Hernandez punished them with a last second equaliser.
A breathtaking first half from Holland. At 2-0 up they sat on their lead
and Mexico, inspired by the news of South Korea’s equaliser, ploughed
forward and for the second successive game came back from 2-0 to tie the
game.
Attendance : 40,000
BELGIUM 1-1 SOUTH KOREA
Nilis 6 Sang-Chul Yoo 70
Vidivic’s header was headed off the line, Vidivic touched the ball back
to Nilis and he sent a volley ripping into the net. Sang-Chul Yoo slid
in a free kick from Seok-Ju.
Attendance : 45,000
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