Jozic’s Goal Rekindles Yugoslavs’ Cup Hopes
Davor Jozic rekindled Yugoslavia’s World Cup hopes today with a crucial goal to defeat Colombia 1-0.
Defeat against Colombia would almost certainly have meant an early exit for Yugoslavia after its 4-1 loss to group favorite West Germany, and the game seemed headed for a goalless draw until Jozic struck.
Jozic, who scored Yugoslavia’s goal Sunday against the West Germans in Milan, controlled a cross with his chest and volleyed the ball into the top of the net over the raised hand of goalkeeper Rene Higuita in the 73rd minute.
Yugoslavia missed a chance to make it 2-0 seven minutes later when Higuita dived to the right to save a penalty from Faruk Hadzibegic after Colombian defender Luis Carlos Perea handled the ball.
The result opened up the group, putting Yugoslavia equal in points with Colombia and West Germany, which has played only one game. The United Arab Emirates has no points.
Yugoslav Coach Ivica Osim was in a cheerful mood, in contrast with his gloom after losing to West Germany.
“I can tell you that the players didn’t sleep much the night after that match,” Osim said. “But they weren’t ready to go home yet.”
Osim said the three changes he had made in the starting line-up, dropping defenders Zoran Vulic and Mirsad Baljic and forward Dejan Savicevic, had paid off.
“This is now a modern team which plays as it should,” said Osim. “We had players who weren’t physically up to the sort of competition we found against West Germany.”
Colombia, which beat United Arab Emirates in its opening game, now faces the formidable task of taking on West Germany in a battle to qualify for the second round.
“This was certainly a big defeat,” Colombian Coach Francisco Maturana said. “In football you pay for your errors; we committed a defensive error and it cost us a goal.”
Yugoslavia, which beat Colombia 5-0 in its only previous World Cup meeting with the South Americans 28 years ago, had two other goals, by Srecko Katanec and Marseille-bound Dragan Stojkovic, disallowed for offside.
