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Socceroos 1988 (Scoop)

Socceroos 1988 (Scoop)


The 1988 Australian Bicentennial Gold Cup was a one-off football tournament to celebrate the bicentennial of first European settlement in Australia in 1788. It was contested by 1988 AFC Asian Cup winners,Saudi Arabia, 1986 FIFA World Cup winners, Argentina, world number one ranked side, Brazil and host nation Australia.  Brazil were eventual winners, beating Australia 2-0 in the final. 

After comfortably beating Saudi Arabia 3-0, next up were reigning Workd Champions Argentina.  After only 2 minutes the Aussies stunned the world champions, as Paul Wade put them in front.  Then, after Ruggeri equalised on the half-hour mark, came Yankos-s free-kick, a single shot that will forever live in the minds of Australian football fans.

Almost 40 metres from goal, directly in front of the three-man Argentina wall, the skipper took a short run up and thrashed the ball goalwards. Despite a seemingly slight deflection, the ball brushed past the three-man wall, beyond goalkeeper Islas and into the right-hand corner.

A Yankos penalty and beautiful 80th-minute Vlado Bozinoski header completed the rout, as Australia defeated Argentina 4-1 in from of 18,000 at Sydney Football Stadium.

Brazil were eventual winners, beating Australia 2-0 in the final.

The Australian side was notable for the inclusion of cult hero Scott Ollerenshaw, nicknamed the 'Ginger Maradona'.

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