1.
GV PLAYERS ONTO PITCH
0.11

2.
GV CROWD
0.14

3.
SV U.S.S.R. KICK OFF MEXICO KICKING LEFT TO RIGHT
0.29

4.
SV U.S.S.R. IN POSSESSION AND ATTACKING, LOSE BALL TO MEXICAN PLAYER NO. 15
0.48

5.
GV SCOREBOARD O-O
0.52

6.
GV CROWD AT HALF TIME (2 SHOTS)
1.00

7.
SV SECOND HALF, MEXICO RIGHT TO LEFT PLAY AROUND RUSSIAN GOAL, GOALKEEPER SAVES
1.07

8.
SV PLAY AROUND RUSSIAN GOAL, BALL CLEARED WIDE
1.14

9.
GV CROWD
1.15

10.
SV MEXICO TAKING CORNER AND SHOT AT GOAL SAVED
1.22

11.
SV PLAY AROUND RUSSIAN GOAL, BALL SAVED
1.25

12.
GV PLAY MEXICO IN POSSESSION, RUSSIA GAIN POSSESSION AND CLEAR UP FIELD
1.34

13.
GV MEXICO ATTACK, RUSSIAN PLAYER INTERCEPTS AND KICKS BALL INTO TOUCH
1.41

14.
SV MEXICO TAKE CORNER, RUSSIAN PLAYER CLEARS UP FIELD
1.46

15.
SV PLAY IN PROGRESS, RUSSIA AROUND MEXICAN GOAL, SHOT AT GOAL GOES WIDE
1.50

16.
GV PLAYERS LEAVING PITCH
1.55

17.
GV PLAYERS LEAVING PITCH
2.00



Initials AF/VS/AS/BJ


SPORT: SOCCER

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MEXICO AND THE SOVIET UNION DREW 0-0 IN MEXICO CITY ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26TH) IN A DRESS REHEARSAL FOR THE OPENING MATCH OF THE WORLD CUP. THE COUNTRIES MEET ON THE SAME AZTEC STADIUM PITCH ON MAY 31ST IN THE FIRST GROUP ONE MATCH.

THE SOVIET UNION, PLAYING RIGHT TO LEFT, (IN RED SHIRTS) KICKED OFF AT THE START OF THIS FRIENDLY MATCH, WHICH WAS TO DEVELOP INTO A FAST, TOUGH AFFAIR, AND WERE IN FIRM CONTROL FOR MOST OF THE FIRST HALF.

PUZACH AND GERSHKOVICH CONTINUALLY THREATENED DANGER TO THE HARD-WORKED MEXICAN DEFENCE. SWIFTLY SWITCHING PLAY FROM ONE WING TO THE OTHER WITH LONG CROSS-FIELD PASSES, THE RUSSIANS BESIEGED THE MEXICAN GOAL, BUT FATAL INDECISION IN FINISHING HELPED THE MEXICANS KEEP THEM OUT.

THE TIDE OF THE GAME CHANGED AFTER THE 35TH MINUTE, WHEN RUSSIAN MIDFIELD PLAYER VLADIMIR, MUNTYAN WAS INJURED IN A COLLISION. AFTER HE WAS REPLACED, THE SOVIET TEAM SEEMED TO RUN OUT OF STEAM.

NOW IT WAS MEXICO'S TURN TO TAKE COMMAND, AND THE 60,000 SPECTATORS WERE FREQUENTLY ON THEIR FEET. HORACIO LOPEZ, EVER DANGEROUS ON THE LEFT WING, TWICE CAME WITHIN INCHES OF SCORING -- WITH A HEADER JUST OVER THE CROSSBAR AND A HARD DRIVE WHICH SKIMMED AN UPRIGHT. THE MEXICANS ATTACKED ALMOST THROUGHOUT THE SECOND HALF AND THE SOVIET UNION CONSTANTLY HAD 7 MEN CONCENTRATING ON DEFENCE. THEIR DEFENSIVE TACTICS PREVENTED THE MEXICANS SCORING, AND AT THE END OF THE GAME THERE WERE STILL NO GOALS.

REFEREE MARIO CANESSA OF CHILE KEPT A TIGHT HAND ON THE MATCH, WHICH SOMETIMES THREATENED TO ERUPT IN BRAWLING.

IT WAS THE FOURTH DRAW IN SUCCESSIVE MATCHES BETWEEN MEXICO AND THE SOVIET UNION AT THE AZTEC STADIUM. TWO OF THE EARLIER GAMES WERE SCORELESS AND THE OTHER ONE ENDED 1-1.

IN GROUP ONE OF THE WORLD CUP, MEXICO AND RUSSIA ARE JOINED BY BELGIUM AND EL SALVADOR.