WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : Saudi Arabia’s Upset Bid Slips Away, 2-1 : Group F: Heavily favored Netherlands come from behind, score winner in 86th minute.

For months, Saudi Arabia eagerly awaited its first foray into the World Cup. The country’s unheralded soccer team then put itself in position for an upset of epic proportions.

That’s when reality set in. The Netherlands, trailing at halftime, rallied for a 2-1 first-round victory Monday night. Gaston Taument scored the game-winner in the 86th minute off a goalkeeper’s mistake, setting off a delirious celebration by the partisan crowd of 52,535 at RFK Stadium.

The winning goal came when Saudi goalie Muhammad Al Deayea, who had played brilliantly to that point, strayed well out of the net to deflect a high kick from the left side. He missed, the ball took one bounce before Taument scored on a header from 15 yards.

“I’ve never scored a goal like that before; I can’t remember anything like it,” Taument said.

The Dutch had tied the game in the 50th minute on a right-footed blast from 20 yards by Wim Jonk.

The heavily favored Dutch dominated the first half, outshooting Saudi Arabia 13-4, but the only score came in the 19th minute on a header by Fuad Amin.

Amin, positioned in front of the net as teammate Fahad Al Bishi took a free kick from the right side, directed the ball into the right side of the net past goalkeeper Ed De Goey.

Moments later, Al Deayea smothered a shot by Dennis Bergkamp. Late in the half, Ronald de Boer was poised to kick the ball in until Al Deayea dived on it.

The Dutch team received boisterous support from thousands of orange-clad fans, several of whom were wearing wooden shoes. The Dutch fans began singing an hour before the game and rarely stopped.

A full brass band, accompanied by a bass drum, played throughout. Several Dutch fans hurled orange ballons and many hung signs over the railings, including one that said, “Orange Magic.”