Champions:
For the first time in their history, Portugal emerged
victorious from a FIFA World Youth Championship. Carlos
Queiroz's charges gave nothing away at the back (only conceding
three goals - all in one game), and outsmarted opposition defences
when it mattered. With Valido (Pedro Franco) directing traffic in
the middle of the park, Jorge Couto and Joao Pinto on hand to put
away half-chances, and lightning speed down the flanks, the
Iberians were simply irresistible. Most impressive was their
victory over Brazil - who had scored 11 goals in four games up
until the intriguing meeting in the semis. Portugal may have only
scored six goals all tournament, and four of their five wins did
come by the slimmest of margins, but they made sure every strike
counted, and a talented generation of footballers was born.
Surprises:
The 1989 tournament in Saudi Arabia had two big surprises in
store. Bob Gansler's USA side, who arrived as last minute
replacements for suspended Mexico, clawed their way to the
semi-finals. A remarkable achievement indeed, and all the more so
when you consider they had to qualify from a group that included
two-time winners Brazil, the formidable East Germans (who had
finished third in 1987), and Mali. Physically imposing and
lightning quick on the break, Gansler's men overcame Iraq in
the quarter-finals and only fell to Nigeria after extra-time in the
semis.
Nigeria proved equally sensational. Expected to hold their own, given their strong performances in younger age groups, nobody expected the Flying Eagles to be quite so resourceful. Three times they hit back after going behind (against Czechoslovakia, USSR and the USA), and nobody who witnessed it will ever forget their historic encounter with the USSR; trailing by 4 goals to 0 with half an hour to play, the Africans scored 4 times in 24 minutes before winning the game on penalties. Victory over the Americans made Nigeria the first African side to reach a FIFA World Youth Championship Final. Christopher Ohenhen, Mutiu Adepoju, and Christopher Nwosu were all key elements in a physically imposing and technically gifted outfit.
Player of the Tournament:
Brazilian midfield supremo Faria Barreto Bismarck was voted
Player of the Tournament at Saudi Arabia '89; with three goals
and umpteen defence-splitting passes to strikers Marcelo Henrique
and Sonny Anderson to his credit, Bismarck was a joy to watch. Yet
despite all his elegance, he could do nothing to prevent his
side's quarter-final defeat. Back in Brazil he went on to play
alongside a certain Bebeto for Vasco da Gama and travelled to the
1990 FIFA World Cup¿ with the Seleçao. He then found an outlet for
his talent in Japan at Yomiuri Verdy, where he was voted Japanese
Player of the Year in 1993.
Rising Stars:
Roberto Bonano (ARG), Diego Simeone (ARG), Sonny Anderson
(BRA), Bismarck (BRA), Leonardo (BRA), Steffen Freund (GER), Mutiu
Adepoju (NGA), Roar Strand (NOR), Fernando Couto (POR), Joao Pinto
(POR), Paulo Sousa (POR), Santiago Canizares (ESP), Alberto Ferrer
(ESP), Ismael Urzaiz (ESP), Kasey Keller (USA), Youri Nikiforov
(URS), Oleg Salenko (URS), Victor Onopko (URS),...
Saudi Arabia 1989 stats:
Final standings:
- Portugal
- Nigeria
- Brazil
- USA
Goals scored:
81 (av.: 2.53)
Best attack:
Brazil, 14 goals
Top goalscorers:
- Oleg Salenko (URS), 5 goals
- Mutiu Adepoju (NGA), Sonny Anderson (BRA), Faria Bismarck (BRA), Marcelo Henrique (BRA), Christopher Ohenhen (NGA), Steve Snow (USA), 3 goals
Host cities:
Ryiadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Taif
Spectators:
643,815 (Final: 65,000)
Average attendance:
20,119
Interesting stat:
Portugal won the 1989 tournament with a "record"
low of only six goals scored.
