Argentina Advances With a 1-1 Tie : Group B: Defending champion gets draw with Romania to reach second round. Maradona is slowed by injuries.

It was not the showcase Maradona hoped for. That will have to wait for further action in the World Cup.

Defending champion Argentina scrambled to a 1-1 tie with Romania on Monday night and both teams clinched berths in the second round of the World Cup. Maradona was hardly a factor for most of the game, slowed by ankle and knee problems and the Romanian’s rugged defensive tactics.

But he did set up Argentina’s goal with a corner kick that defender Pedro Monzon converted in the 61st minute.

“I’m full of sorrow because I did not fulfill expectations,” Maradona said.

He was lucky to be on the field at all. Team doctor Raul Madero wanted to bench him at halftime.

“Maradona said, ‘I want to play, until death, if necessary,’ ” Coach Carlos Bilardo said after the game.

“It is no excuse,” Maradona added, “but my foot is very bad.”

Maradona was treated roughly by the Romanians and Marius Lacatus and Gheorghe Hagi both drew yellow cards for overly vigorous tackles on him.

On the tying goal, Lacatus passed to the far post, and the ball was headed back across the goal by Ioan Sabau. Gavrila Balint was there to put it home.

Cameroon finished on top of Group B with four points despite losing to the Soviet Union, 4-0, in a game played at the same time. Romania finished second with three points and a 4-3 goal differential and Argentina third with a 3-2 goal differential.

The Soviet Union finished fourth in the group with two points and was automatically eliminated.

Argentina now faces a likely second-round meeting with either West Germany or Brazil.

Romania, which made it past the first round for the first time in five World Cup appearances, will play the second-place team in Group F, which contains the Netherlands, England, Ireland and Egypt.