WORLD CUP USA ‘94: ROUND OF 16 : TODAY’S GAMES AT A GLANCE
At Giants Stadium East Rutherford, N.J.
Mexico vs. Bulgaria
* TIME: 1:30 p.m. PDT
* TV: ESPN, Univision
* KEY MATCHUPS: The rule mandating a one-game suspension for receiving two yellow cards has robbed Bulgaria of its three best defensive-minded players: Trifon Ivanov, Tsanko Tzvetanov and Zlatko Iankov. This is good news for Mexican offensive stars Luis Garcia, Luis Roberto (Zague) Alves, and Carlos Hermosillo. Garcia scored twice in the first round, Hermosillo added two assists and Alves was fouled a team-leading eight times while forcing opponents to chase him into the corner. The Mexicans have two other offensive stars playing in the middle of the field--Alberto Garcia Aspe and Marcelino Bernal, whose goal gave Mexico a 1-1 tie with Italy. Bulgaria’s offense is essentially two men: Hristo Stoichkov and Emil Kostadinov. They combined for three goals, three assists and 21 shots in the first round. That is more production in each category than Mexico’s Garcia, Alves and Hermosillo combined. But Bulgaria has yet to face a pressing defense like the one fashioned by Mexican Coach Miguel Mejia Baron. Holding Ireland and Italy to one goal each made stars of Jorge Rodriguez, Claudio Suarez and Juan Ramirez Perales. Another budding defensive star, Ramon Ramirez, who played well against Italy’s Baggios, should play his second game of this World Cup. No talk of the Mexican defense is complete without mentioning goalkeeper Jorge Campos, the brightly adorned daredevil who charges anything with 18 yards. However, Bulgaria goalkeeper Borislav Mikhailov, a second-division player in France, has made his reputation here with 22 saves while giving up only three goals. Campos has given up three goals while making 12 saves.
* OUTLOOK: The Mexicans are making no secret that they are thrilled to be playing Bulgaria, which took advantage of a terrible Greek team and a terribly uninspired Argentine team to advance. The Bulgarians were winless in 17 World Cup finals games until this year and have not advanced past the second round in five previous appearances. But the players who thought they would be playing tough Nigeria should not celebrate too soon. This same Mexican team that has thrilled its country by winning difficult Group E also tied Bulgaria and lost to the United States in pre-Cup matches. Mexico is a talented team but not talented enough that a couple of players can afford to lose concentration. Bulgaria is not so talented, particularly with the three suspensions, but it has enough firepower in Stoichkov and Kostadinov to surprise.
* OUTCOME: More than 70,000 will turn the Meadowlands into a suburb of Mexico City. Bulgaria will look around and realize that in more than one way, it doesn’t belong. Mexico, which showed flashes of brilliance in its last two games, has caught a wave that should carry it past Bulgaria and on to the quarterfinals against . . . oh, yeah, Germany. Mexico by a goal.
