International Season of 1991/92, Part 1 (July and August 1991)

 

August

On July 12, 1991, Dimitar Penev was appointed as Bulgaria National Team Manager. He managed for the first time vs. Turkey on August 21^st.

On August 20, 1991, Paulo Roberto Falcao was sacked as Brazil National Team Manager.

On August 27, 1991, Ernesto Paulo was appointed as Brazil National Team caretaker Manager.

Yugoslavia toured Italy for the first time since its break-up in May after Slovenia and Croatia had declared Independence.

 

 

Date: July 24, 1991

Competition: Friendly

Venue: Abidjan

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Ivory Coast 0-Guinea 0 (-)

Date: July 26, 1991

Competition: African Nations Cup 1992-Qualifier-Group 2

Venue: Cairo, International Stadium

Referee: -

Attendance: 65,000

Egypt 2-Tunisia 2 (Ismail Youssef 44, Magdi Abdelghani 66 / Mohamed Ali Mahjoubi 46, 60)

Date: July 26, 1991

Competition: African Nations Cup 1992-Qualifier-Group 3

Venue: Nouakchott, 

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Mauritania 0-Niger 1 (???)

Date: July 27, 1991

Competition: African Nations Cup 1992-Qualifier-Group 4

Venue: Lagos, National Stadium

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Nigeria 7-Burkina Faso 1 (Rashidi Yekini 13, 69, 71, 80, Samson Siasia 14, Friday Elaho 74, Finidi George 88 / ??)

Date: July 27, 1991

Competition: African Nations Cup 1992-Qualifier-Group 7

Venue: Lilongwe

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Malawi 2-Zimbabwe 2 (Own Goal (Rzwodzi)20' , Chimodzi 86 /  Nagoli 13', Peter Ndlovu 89)

Date: July 27, 1991

Competition: African Nations Cup 1992-Qualifier-Group 5

Venue: Lusaka, Independence Stadium

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Zambia 1-Angola 0 (Charlie Musonda 89)

Date: July 27, 1991

Competition: African Nations Cup 1992-Qualifier-Group 1

Venue: Freetown, National Stadium

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Sierra Leone 2-Mali 0 (??)

Date: July 28, 1991

Competition: African Nations Cup 1992-Qualifier-Group 1

Venue: Yaoundé, Stade Omnisports

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Cameroon 1-Guinea 0 (François Omam-Biyik 10)

Date: July 28, 1991

Competition: African Nations Cup 1992-Qualifier-Group 3

Venue: Abidjan

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Ivory Coast 2-Morocco 0 (Lacina 24, Abdoulaye Traoré 52)

Date: July 28, 1991

Competition: African Nations Cup 1992-Qualifier-Group 4

Venue: Cotonou

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Benin 0-Ghana 0 (?-)

Date: July 28, 1991

Competition: African Nations Cup 1992-Qualifier-Group 6

Venue: Nairobi, Moi International Sports Centre

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Kenya 2-Sudan 1 (Henry Motego 13, Michael Okoth 70 / Faraj 87)

Date: July 28, 1991

Competition: African Nations Cup 1992-Qualifier-Group 8

Venue: Libreville, Omnisports Stadium

Referee: -

Attendance: 50,000

Gabon 0-Zaire 0 (-)

Date: July 28, 1991

Competition: African Nations Cup 1992-Qualifier-Group 8

Venue: Dar-es-Salaam

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Tanzania 1-Uganda 1 (????)

 

 

Date: August 2, 1991

Competition: Philadelphia Cup 

Venue: Philadelphia -Veterans’ Stadium

Referee: Angelo Bratsis (USA)

Attendance: 44,261

USA 2-Sheffield Wednesday (England) 0 (Bruce Murray 52, Brian Quinn 60)

 

Photo From:  Soccer America, Vol. 41, No. 7, Issue 1023, August 19, 1991

(August 2, 1991, Philadelphia Cup, USA 2-Sheffield Wednesday (England) 0)

Date: August 7, 1991

Competition: Memorial Pier Cesare Baretti Tournament

Venue: -

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Lazio (Italy) 1-Czechoslovakia 1 (??)

Date: August 7, 1991

Competition: Memorial Pier Cesare Baretti Tournament

Venue: -

Referee: -

Attendance: -

Genoa (Italy) 0-Yugoslavia 0 (-)

 

Photo From: World Soccer, June 1992

(Yugoslavia squad, August 7, 1991, Memorial Pier Cesare Baretti, Genoa (Italy) 0-Yugoslavia 0)

 

 

Date: August 8, 1991

Competition: Memorial Pier Cesare Baretti Tournament

Venue: Aosta (Italy), Stadio Mario Puchoz

Referee: Carlo Squizzato (Italy)

Attendance: -

Yugoslavia 0-Czechoslovakia 1 (-) (Czechoslovakia won 4-3 on a penalty kick shoot-out)

Penalties:

Czechsolovakia: Hapal, Jurasko, Cerny, Nemecek

Yugoslavia: Mijatovic, Lukic, Savicevic, Milanic (missed), Jokanovic (post)

 

Date: August 8, 1991

Competition: Friendly 

Venue: Oslo- Ullevaal Stadion

Referee: Hans-Peter Dellwing (Germany)

Attendance:  9,482

Norway 1-Sweden 2 (Oyvind Leonhardsen 12 / Roland Nilsson 14, Andres Limpar 40)

 

Date: August 11, 1991

Competition: CEDEAO Qualifier

Venue: Otonou

Referee: -

Attendance:  -

Benin 0-Ivory Coast 3 (???)

Note: Unofficial Match

 

Date: August 14, 1991

Competition: Friendly 

Venue: Poznań, Stadion Miejski (Lecha Stadion)

Referee: Alexei Spirin (USSR) 

Attendance:  14,000

Poland 1-France 5 (Jan Urban 17 / Franck Sauzee 42, Jean-Pierre Papin 45, Amara Simba 68, Laurent Blanc 69, Christian Perez 77)

 

 

Photo from: Bialo Czerwoni 1921-2001, Author Andrzej Gowarzewski

(Poland squad, August 14, 1991, Poland 1-France 5)

 

 

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 32, September 1991

(Jean-Pierre papin, August 14, 1991, Poland 1-France 5)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 32, September 1991

(France squad, August 14, 1991, Poland 1-France 5)

 

Date: August 17, 1991

Competition: Friendly 

Venue: Moscow

Referee: Valeri Butenko (USSR)

Attendance:  22,000

USSR (Olympic) 2-USA 1 (Yuri Nikiforov 11, Bakhva Tedeev 56 / Hugo Perez 81)

 

 

Photo from: Soccer International, Volume 2, Issue 10, October 1991

(August 17, 1991, USSR (Olympic) 2-USA 1)

 

Photo from: Soccer International, Volume 2, Issue 10, October 1991

(USSR and USA squads, August 17, 1991, USSR (Olympic) 2-USA 1)

 

 

Date: August 19, 1991

Competition: Friendly 

Venue: Sucoma

Referee: -

Attendance:  -

Malawi 1-Mozambique 0 (???)

Date: August 20, 1991

Competition: Friendly 

Venue: Blantyre

Referee: -

Attendance:  -

Malawi 2-Mozambique 0 (???)

 

 

Date: August 20, 1991

Competition: Torneo Naranja

Venue: Valencia

Referee: -

Attendance:  -

Valencia CF (Spain) 1-USSR 1 (Fernando 3 / Igor Korneyev 27)

 

Date: August 21, 1991

Competition: Torneo Naranja

Venue: Valencia

Referee: -

Attendance:  -

Sao Paulo (Brazil) 0-USSR 0 (-)

 

Date: August 21, 1991

Competition: Friendly 

Venue: Stara Zagora-Beroe Stadion

Referee: Karl Josef Assenmacher (Germany)

Attendance:  5,000

Bulgaria 0-Turkey 0 (-)

 

 

Date: August 21, 1991

Competition: Friendly 

Venue: Prague, Stadion Evžena Rošického (Strahov)

Referee: Wolf-Günther Wiesel (Germany)

Attendance:  4,000

Czechoslovakia 1-Switzerland 1 (Milan Luhový 18 / Kubilay Turkyilmaz 25)

 

 

Photo From: se Lvickem na prsou-Authors O.Bartunek, J.Kalat

(Czechoslovakia squad, August 21, 1991, Czechoslovakia 1-Switzerland 1)

Date: August 21, 1991

Competition: Friendly 

Venue: Gdynia -Baltyk Stadion

Referee: Frans Vandenwijngaert (Belgium)

Attendance:  6,000

Poland 2-Sweden 0 (Wojciech Kowalczyk 59, Mirosław Trzeciak 90)

 

 

Photo From: Bialo Czerwoni 1921-2001, Author Andrzej Gowarzewski

(August 21, 1991, Poland 2-Sweden 0)

Date: August 21, 1991

Competition: Friendly 

Venue: Innsbruck

Referee: Mayrhofer (Germany)

Attendance:  1,620

Tirol Innsbruck (Austria) 4-USA 0 (Peter Pacult 29, 66, Christoph Westerthaler 85, Renato 87)

 

 

Date: August 28, 1991

Competition: UEFA European Championship Qualifier, Group 3

Venue: Oslo- Ullevaal Stadion

Referee: Howard King (Wales)

Attendance:  25,427

Norway 0-USSR 1 (Alexander Mostovoi 74)

 

Date: August 28, 1991

Competition: Friendly 

Venue: Brasov- Municipal

Referee: Bernd Heynemann (Germany)

Attendance:  7,500

Romania 0-USA 2 (Marcelo Balboa 40, Bruce Murray 58)

 

Transfers that did not happen, Part Four

1- Prior to joining Bari in the summer of 1991, England midfielder David Platt also had an offer to join France’s big spending Olympique Marseille.

Platt himself stated that even though OM is a better team, the greater challenge was at Bari.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, September 18-24, 1991

(David Platt, September 15, 1991, Bari 1-Sampdoria 1)

2- AC Milan’s Ruud Gullit was seriously injured in 1989. His injury sidelined him for practically the season of 1989/90.

In case Gullit could not recover from his injury, the AC Milan management took an option on Steaua Bucharest’s Gheorge Hagi.

Gullit recovered and came back for AC Milan and Hagi joined Real Madrid in the summer of 1990.

Photo From: Don Balon, Chile Edition, August 20-26, 1996, Issue no 219

(Gheorge Hagi, June 26, 1994, World Cup, USA 0-Romania 1)

3- Liverpool’s Danish midfielder Jan Molby almost joined Barcelona in the November of 1990. However, the teams could not finally agree on a fee and the deal was called off.

Barcelona Manager Johann Cruyff was eyeing Molby, since Barcelona’s Dutch sweeper Ronald Koeman was expected to be injured for most of the season.

Photo from: Onze, November 1988

(Jan Molby and Pierre Littbarski, June 13, 1986, World Cup, Denmark 2-West Germany 0)

4-Diego Maradona created a controversy in the Summer and early Fall of 1989 when he delayed his return to Napoli from Argentina following duty during the Copa America.

Olympique Marseille’s ambitious President Bernard Tapie had made an offer for Maradona and the player was willing to join.

Maradona was showing early signs of the stress of playing in the Serie A and the relative stress free environment of the French League must have appealed to him.

In any case, Napoli would have none of it and Maradona was forced to return to Napoli with the season already already underway for weeks.

Photo from: World Soccer, September 1989

(Diego Maradona on the cover of World Soccer Magazine)

5-Real Madrid had made an offer to acquire Dinamo Kiev midfielder Leonid Burjak in the Fall of 1981.

This was during the cold war era, where Soviet player transfers to the west never happened.

Predictably, Soviet officials refused Burjak permission to join Real Madrid.

Photo from: Onze, September 1983

(Dinamo Kiev’s Leonid Burjak)

Memorable European Confrontations, Part 13-1990 Internazionale Milano vs. Aston Villa

Internazionale Milano and Aston Villa were paired in the second round of the 1990/91 UEFA Cup.

The Italians, managed by Giovanni Trappatoni, boasted a star-studded squad.

The team contained the recent World Cup Champions German trio of Lothar Matthaus, Andreas Brehme and Jurgen Klinnsman.

The Italian Internationals on their squad were Walter Zenga, Giuseppe Bergomi, Riccardo Ferri, Nicola Berti and Aldo Serena.

They had eliminated Austria’s Rapid Vienna in the first round.

This was the season that the English clubs were reprieved in UEFA competitions following the ban imposed after the Heysel disaster in 1985.

Aston Villa were England’s first representative back in the UEFA Cup.

Former Czechoslovakia National team manager Jozsef Venglos managed the side.

The team’s main star was English midfielder David Platt who had excelled in the recent World Cup in Italy and was eyeing a move to the Serie A himself.

Veterans Gordon Cowans, Derek Mountfield and Republic of Ireland’s Paul McGrath added steel and experience to a mostly inexperienced squad with little or no European experience.

They defeated Czechoslovakia’s Banik Ostrava in the first round with relative ease.

The first leg, on October 24th, was played in Birmingham’s Villa Park under the watchful eye of England National Team manager and former Aston Villa Manager Graham Taylor.

Aston Villa dominated and were rewarded with a surprisingly comfortable 2 to 0 win.

The Italians were missing young midfielder Alessandro Bianchi through suspension.

Aston Villa were missing Paul McGrath due to knee injury, therefore Venglos selected Andrew Comyn to deputize for him.

Photo From: France Football, October 30, 1990

(Lothar Matthaus and David Platt)

Internazionale performed poorly by their standards and many were surprised how much room David Platt and Daley were given to operate.

Only goalkeeper Walter Zenga came away with some credit, as Daley, Birch and Kent Nielsen had their opposite counterparts Brehme, Matthaus and Klinnsman in check.

Danish defender Kent Nielsen scored Villa’s first with a long range shot from outside the box in the 14^th minute.

Photo From: France Football, October 30, 1990

(Kent Nielsen and Klinnsman)

Midway through the second half Platt scored from close range from a pass by Cowans.

The Italian media and observers mostly praised Tony Daley and Platt.

Photo From: France Football, October 30, 1990

(Bergomi, Ferri and Battistini surrounding Tony Daley)

Trappatoni himself singled out Daley as the most dangerous opponent.

Graham Taylor commented that with Daley could become a National Team regular just like Platt with performances like this.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, October 30-November 6, 1990

(Nicola Berti and Tony Cascarino)

Inter President Ernesto Pellegrini insisted all is not lost and was confident despite the difficult task ahead.

Giovanni Trappatoni regretted his players missing 3 very good opportunities to score.

He parted by telling the English that ‘Europe was less beautiful without you.”

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, October 30-November 6, 1990

(David Platt and Nicola Berti)

October 24, 1990

Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham (England) 2- Internazionale Football Club-Milano (Italy) 0

UEFA Cup- Second Round, First Leg

Venue: Birmingham-Villa Park

Attendance: 36,491

Referee: Lajos Nemeth (Hungary)

Goalscorers: (Aston Villa): Kent Nielsen 14, David Platt 68

 (Internazionale): None

Lineups:

Aston Villa:

1-Nigel Spink, 2-Christopher Price, 3-Stuart Gray, 4-Andrew Comyn, 5-Derek Mountfield, 6-Kent Nielsen (Denmark), 7-Tony Daley, 8-David Platt, 9-Paul Birch, 10-Gordoan Cowans, Tony Cascarino (Republic of Ireland)

Coach: Jozsef Venglos (Czechoslovakia)

Other Subs:

12-Ian Olney, 13-Lee Butler, 14-Ian Ormondroyd, 15-Dwight Yorke (Trinidad and Tobago), 16-Noel Blake

Team Captain: Stuart Gray

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro

Shirt Sponsor: Mita Copiers

Uniform Colors: Claret with Sky Blue sleeves Shirts, White Shorts, Sky Blue Socks

Internazionale Milano:

1-Walter Zenga, 2-Giuseppe Bergomi, 3-Andreas Brehme (Germany), 4-Nicola Berti, 5-Riccardo Ferri, 6-Sergio Battistini, 7-Paolo Stringara, 8-Fausto Pizzi (15-Andrea Mandorlini 71^st), 9-Jurgen Klinnsman (Germany), 10-Lothar Matthaus (Germany),  11-Aldo Serena

Coach: Giovanni Trappatoni

Other Subs:

12-Astutillo Malgioglo, 13-Giuseppe Baresi, 14-Antonio Paganin, 16-Giuseppe Marino

Team Captain: Giuseppe Bergomi

Official Kit Supplier/Designer:  Uhlsport

Shirt Sponsor:  Misura

Uniform Colors: White Shirts, Black Shorts , Black Socks

The second leg, on November 7th, was played at Milan’s San Siro Stadium.

Alessandro Bianchi and Paul McGrath were back in their respective lineups.

Inter played one of its most memorable European matches and overturned a seemingly lost tie.

They attacked from the start and Klinnsman scored in the seventh minute by picking up a long ball from Battistini from their own half and beating Spink one on one.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, November 21-27, 1990

(Klinnsman after scoring the opener)

The second goal was scored in the 62^nd minute when Matthaus’ free kick on the right was nodded on across and Berti hammered home.

The third and winning goal in the 74^th minute was somewhat controversial, when Pizzi crossed from the left side, the ball seemed to have crossed the line and out, however the referee did not see it.

Photo From: France Football, November 13, 1990

(Kent Nielsen, Tony Cascarino and Klinnsman)

Bianchi volleyed the cross from a narrow angle and Aston Villa was out.

Despite the dubious nature of the third goal, Inter clearly deserved their victory and had outclassed Aston Villa.

Photo From: France Football, November 13, 1990

(Ferri, Paganin and Daley)

They had outshot Villa 17 to 6 and had won 9 corners to 1.

Bianchi and Pizzi stood out mostly with their performances.

Venglos conceded they had lost to one of the best teams in the world.

Photo From: Shoot, November 17, 1990

(Berti , Zenga and Platt)

Inter progressed and went on to win the UEFA Cup in the following May by defeating AS Roma in the final.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, November 21-27, 1990

(Berti scoring Inter’s second)

Giovanni Trappatoni later declared that it was after this tie with Aston Villa that he knew they could lift the trophy that season.

Photo From: Shoot, November 17, 1990

(A disappointed Platt and celebrating Inter players)

November 7, 1990

Internazionale Football Club-Milano (Italy) 3-Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham (England) 0

UEFA Cup- Second Round, Second Leg

Venue: Milano-Stadio Giuseppe Meazza ,San Siro

Attendance: 75,585

Referee: Alexei Spirin (USSR)

Goalscorers: (Internazionale): Jurgen Klinsmann 7, Nicola Berti 62,

        Alessandro Bianchi 74

  (Aston Villa):  None

Lineups:

Internazionale Milano:

1-Walter Zenga, 2-Giuseppe Bergomi, 3-Andreas Brehme (Germany), 4-Nicola Berti (Andrea Mandorlini 81^st), 5-Riccardo Ferri, 6-Sergio Battistini (Antonio Paganin 46^th), 7-Alessandro Bianchi, 8-Fausto Pizzi 9-Jurgen Klinnsman (Germany), 10-Lothar Matthaus (Germany),  11-Aldo Serena

Coach: Giovanni Trappatoni

Team Captain: Giuseppe Bergomi

Official Kit Supplier/Designer:  Uhlsport

Shirt Sponsor:  Misura

Uniform Colors: Black/Blue Vertical Striped Shirts, Black Shorts , Black Socks

Aston Villa:

1-Nigel Spink, 2-Christopher Price, 3-Stuart Gray, 4-Paul McGrath (Republic of Ireland), 5-Derek Mountfield (Ian Olney 81st), 6-Kent Nielsen (Denmark), 7-Tony Daley, 8-David Platt, 9-Paul Birch, 10-Gordoan Cowans, Tony Cascarino (Republic of Ireland)

Coach: Jozsef Venglos (Czechoslovakia)

Team Captain: Stuart Gray

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro

Shirt Sponsor: Mita Copiers

Uniform Colors: White sleeves Shirts, Sky Blue Shorts, White Socks