Argentina Defeats Bulgaria, 2-0, Clinches First Place in Group A

Jorge Valdano scored in the third minute and Argentina rarely was challenged after that in a 2-0 victory over Bulgaria Tuesday that clinched the World Cup Group A soccer competition for the Argentines.

Argentina, which won the Cup in 1978 and is one of the favorites this year, will play a third-place qualifier next Monday in Puebla.

Bulgaria, which had tied defending champion Italy and South Korea, finished 0-1-2 and has only an outside chance of advancing to the second round. Bulgaria has never won in 15 World Cup games.

Argentine star Diego Maradona, a victim of frequent hard tackles and fouls in the tournament, was fouled for the first time in this game after 30 seconds.

Soon after, Argentina struck for its first goal. Defender Jose Cuciuffo went around Alexander Markov, down the right side, and his pinpoint pass was headed into the net by Valdano. It was the striker’s third goal of the tournament.