The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 24

THE GUARDIAN Thursday July 14 1994 Sweden 0 Romario sets ud the final carnival 24 SPORTS NEWS Paul Wilson In lot Angeles hind a clumsy offside trap in the 13th minute but, with Ravelli back-pedalling frantically, he snapped at his shot and put it the wrong side of a post. Sweden had an even greater escape when Romario skipped easily and dangerously between Bjorklund and Ljung, then rounded Ravelli for good measure, only to underhit his shot and see Patrik Andersson clear off the line. The ball ran free to Mazinho who, with the goal at his mercy, blasted his shot into the side netting. Ijung was somewhat harshly booked for a foul on Mazinho result when the substitute exchanged passes with Romario to advance on the Swedish goal. But Ravelli came out swiftly and bravely to smother the danger.

The veteran goalkeeper covered himself in even more glory in the 55th minute when he dived athletically to his left to tip over a stinging shot from Zinho which was bound for the top corner. The match was being played almost exclusively in the Swedish half, with the Brazilian defence coping easily with sporadic runs forward from Dahlin and Kennet Andersson. The after half an hour, his second yellow card in the final stages, but Brazil appeared likely to render academic his would-be disqualification from the final when Jorghino sliced Sweden open with a superb long pass to Bebeto on the left wing. Bebeto's instinctive flick to Romario in the centre was, as usual, precise and perfectly timed but his colleague's control could not match it. Romario needed a second touch, by which time the chance was gone.

Brazil brought on Rai for Mazinho for the second half, a ploy which almost brought a quick reluctant to push too many players forward initially and leave themselves undermanned at the back. Brazil began as if in search of an early goal to settle them down and Romario had a shot on target as soon as the third minute, though Ravelli caused more excitement in the crowd than was necessary by punching out two-fisted from under his crossbar when a routine catch would have sufficed. The eccentric Swedish goalkeeper was more fully extended in the eighth minute when Branco struck a low free-kick through the defensive wall. Though Taffarel had to make a rare save from an isolated long shot by Mild, most of the first half action was concentrated around Ravelli's goal. Fortunately, from Ravelli's point of view at least, Brazil's overwhelming superiority in approach play was not carried through to their finishing.

The goalkeeper found himself beaten on several occasions but Brazil, having shredded the Swedish cover, failed to find the target. Zinho seemed certain to score when Bebeto's pass put him be Swedish midfield consisted solely of Brolin. In the 63rd minute Sweden were even shorter of hope when they lost their captain Them, who received a red card for taking Dunga's legs after the ball had gone. Although Sweden managed to prevail in their quarter-final against Romania after going down to 10 men, Brazil were a different proposition. With nine minutes remaining the Swedish defence was caught leaden-footed as Jor-ginho swung over a cross from the right wing and Romario THE World Cup breathed a sight of relief yesterday as Brazil dispatched a disappointing Sweden to reach their first final for 24 years, against Italy, the team they beat in Mexico in 1970.

But anyone salivating at the prospect should reflect that it was the 81st minute before Romario broke the deadlock against a dour Swedish side once again reduced to 10 men. Sweden started again slowly, Bulgaria 1, Italy 2 tsaigjgjn9 gOcqxuiQdD GirEilkd 8 First blood Roberto Baggio Bulgarian goalkeeper Mikhailov for Italy's opening goal at Giants Stadium last night Romario late winner rose alone at the far post for his fifth goal of the tournament and possibly his most important. (WMMN: Ravelli; Nlluon, Andersson, Blorktund, Ljung, Ingeuon, Thern, Dahlin (Rerm, 87mln). Brolin, Mild, Andorsson. MUUILt Tnftarel; Jatglnho.

Branco, Aldalr, Mallo Samoa, Mazinho (Hal, h-t), Mauro Sllva, Dunga, Zinho, Bebeto, Romario. Torres caaena (UoiomDia). PHOTOGRAPH: BOB STRONG partial lifting of a ban on women at soccer stadiums. State television has shown every game from the States live, with a delay of a few seconds to allow editors to cut out crowd scenes showing women in clothes deemed and now the Iranian soccer federation is to allow women to watch youth teams from Iran, Bahrain, India and Indonesia compete in Tehran. But the newspaper Jom-huri Eslami asked: "Considering the religious issues we abide by, what argument can justify the presence of young girls in stadiums where 15-year-old youths appear in sports uniforms?" What argument indeed, considering that Iran's women are allowed to compete internationally only at chess, skiing, shooting, equestrianism and sports for the disabled, where they can wear cover-all Islamic gar ments.

Swimming is out. DALLAS is feeling mighty pleased. The city that spawned JR has never been backward at coming for ward, and of its part in staging this World Cup its spokeswoman Chalese Stachowiak said modestly: We were outstanding. I think we made a great impression on the people who didn't know anything about soccer. Those who did were thrilled to be part of it." were making, not only in financial terms but for a share in Lewis's future.

This will be the first world title fight at Wembley Arena since Lloyd Honeyghan unsuccessfully challenged Mark Breland for a world welterweight title in March 1990. The last major fight in the hall was Bruno's sparsely attended world heavyweight title eliminator against Pierre Coetzer two years ago. Since then Wembley, once the epicentre of British boxing in Britain particularly during the reign of Henry Cooper in the Fifties and Sixties has relegated boxing to the Conference Hall and ever-diminishing live audiences. I Italian blue bloods hit right vein DvM Lacey In Hew York ASIL RATHBONE I made it to Holly- U.m I not without consid erate assistance from Errol Flynn. For five minutes the grey forces which had sustained Italy in the 1994 World Cup burst into glorious Technicolor.

That, and Roberto Baggio, proved too much for Bulgaria. So Italy, the ragged-trousered chancers, are in their fifth World Cup final, having ridden their luck until the beast threatened to drop dead from exhaustion. Yesterday's 2-1 victory in Giants Stadium owed much to fortune, and it was Roberto Baggio's goalscoring habits which carried Italy through. Baggio struck twice, in the 21st and 25th minutes, to earn himself the right at least to try the mantle of Paolo Rossi for size. In 1982 Rossi's six goals first sustained, then inspired Enzo Bearzot's Italian team as they won the World Cup a third time.

Now Baggio is one short of Rossi's total and few would bet against him finding the net in Pasadena on Sunday. A penalty from Stoichkov towards the end of the first half renewed Bulgaria's hopes for the second. Yet their attack, for all Stoichkov's promptings, never really managed to disrupt the Italy defence as it had undermined Germany's confidence and cohesion in the same arena three days earlier. After half-time Stoichkov gained only one small victory. Costacurta, already cautioned against Nigeria in the second round, was shown the yellow card for fouling the Bulgarian player and as a result will miss the Rose Bowl, having already been suspended for the European Cup final.

Costacurta burst into tears but for Italy the loss may be offset by the unscheduled return of Baresi, thought to have seen his last World Cup game when he injured a knee against Norway. That was the match which saw Roberto Baggio taken off early as Arrigo Sacchi, needing nine fit outfield players after the dismissal of Pagliuca and his replacement in goal by Mar-chegiani, could not afford one carrying an assortment of aches and strains. Before the end of yesterday's match both Baggios had departed, Conte replacing Dino and Signori coming on for Roberto. Perhaps, for Bulgaria, that was the last straw. Sacchi was prepared to take them on with both hands behind his back.

At all events Stoichkov departed soon afterwards. A mixture of the heat 98F in the stadium yesterday superior Italian defending and the sort of passing which the Germans failed to produce against Cynthia Bateman at the pedigree of the three-times champions them on Sunday put Bulgaria in perspective. Then again, they had already won their own World Cup final. Beating the holders had assured them of a glorious homecoming. Italy, too, now.

During yesterday's early stalemate a cunningly disguised through-pass from Roberto Baggio, to which Mikhai-lov just beat Casiraghi, warned Bulgaria of the greater subtleties which lay in Italy's attack compared with Germany's predictable power and pace. Not that they could have anticipated the storm that broke midway through the first half. After 21 minutes Roberto Baggio struck and Italy were ahead. Four minutes later he repeated the demonstration and Italy were heading for the Rose Bowl. Nobody had ever seriously doubted Baggio's ability to influence events in this World Cup; it was just Bulgaria's misfortune that they were around when he drew his sword.

First Baggio collected a throw-in from Donadoni on the right and, as he did so, he turned past Jankov, his marker. Hubchev, the sweeper, was then brushed aside as Baggio accelerated square before beating Mikhailov with another of those rifled right-footed shots low into the corner of the net. What followed filled the stadium with Italian glee as the optimism drained from Bulgar ian hearts. Now Albertini caught the eye, hitting a post from 30 yards before forcing Mikhailov to tip another shot over the bar. Then in the 25th minute Al bertini turned provider with a gloriously weighted pass over the heads of the defence which was perfectly timed to keep Roberto Baggio onside and set him up for a second goal.

This time Baggio's shot found the oppo site corner. By half-time, however, some of the Azzurri's old anxieties had started to return. In the 43rd minute, as Sirakov veered into the penalty area, he was pursued by Costacurta and tripped by the advancing Pag liuca. Stoichkov's penalty had the goalkeeper diving at thin air. Stoichkov's attempts to or chestrate Bulgaria's attack from the left-hand touchline recalled Johan Cruyff in the World Cup of 1974.

Another Neeskens would have done the Bulgaria attack no harm yesterday. Great footballers have an in stinctive feel for great moments. That is why Italy are heading for California. ULOARIAt Mikhailov; Klrlakov, Ivanov. Hubchev, Jankov, Tzvelanov, Letchkov, Sirakov, Balakov, Kosladfnov (lordanov, 72mln), Stoichkov (Guontchov.

78). ITALYi Pagliuca; Mussl. Costacurta. Maldlnl. Benarrivo, Bom.

Albertini, Baoolo (Conto, 55). Donadoni, Baggio (Slgnorl, 72), Caalraghl. Mmi Oulnlou (France). IPSWICH TOWN 819 SOUTHAMPTON aao BLACKBURN HOVERS OIPHAM ATHLETIC MIDDLESBROUGH 821 822 a3 CRYSTAL PALACE 824 long last ball, but it went a stride too far, just as they had done. At the final whistle Costacurta left the pitch with head bowed, inconsolable at the prospect of missing the final through suspension.

Roberto Baggio left in tears of joy, his arms raised in salute to the supporters' adoration. "We played with a lot of dignity and determination," said Penev of his beaten side. "We had more chances in the second half. We had opportunities to even the score but we didn't take them. We really can't be upset with our defence letting Roberto Baggio score those wonderful goals." Then, unsportingly, he added: "Neither can we be upset about the two penalties we should have had." And more sportingly: "We wish Italy well because they are playing for Europe in the final." Sacchi said he could not talk about the game, his mind was already on the final.

But his words were drowned out bizarrely and inexplicably by the strains of God Save the Queen coming through the speakers. An omen for 1998, perhaps. beats Ivanov and the dive of the Giants Stadium sees into yet another final and Blackpool FC's Tangerine Army. They were kept entertained before the match with film on the scoreboard screen of previous finals, including a black-and-wbite clip of Italy Hungary in the third World Cup. Italy won that one 4-2 having received a telegram from Mussolini which ordered "Win or The beaten Hungarian goalkeeper Szabo consoled himself with the thought that "at least we saved 11 The filling stadium trumpeted and drummed discordant notes in anticipation like a giant orchestra pit.

It had not been like this when Bulgaria beat Germany, but it bad been when Italy lost to Ireland in their disastrous start to the campaign nearly four weeks and five matches ago. But in the intervening weeks the unusually stuttering, messy Azzurri had found their form. The game itself began without a great deal of passion but there was early evidence to cost sess the value of two more former Widnes players, Paul Mor-iarty, the Welsh international forward, and Bobby Goulding, the 22-year-old Great Britain scrum-half. Moriarty, who has joined Halifax, was valued at 190,000 by Widnes, and Goulding, who has moved to St Helens, at 215,000. Halifax had budgeted about 65,000 for Moriarty, and St Helens offered 60,000 for Goulding.

Two other clubs hopelessly at odds on the value of a player are Sheffield Eagles and Featherstone Rovers, for whom Mark Aston signed a three-year contract yesterday. Eagles want 250,000 for their former scrum-half whereas that the stars would shine Roberto Baggio, Stoichkov and the people's new hero Letchkov. But Baggio with his brace of goals was to prove himself yet again to be a cut above the rest. "It is what you would expect from the best player in the world," said Bulgaria's coach Dimitar Penev afterwards. As Baggio's first goal flew into the far corner, the sound "go-o-oa-1" was already screaming up involuntarily out of one's throat.

Albertini was there again within seconds, this time to chip over the defence to Baggio, who shot from 10 yards and a fairly acute angle to score another wonderful goal. Costacurta made it a much brighter light at the end of the tunnel, his challenge giving Stoichkov the penalty and lifting the hearts of the very few Bulgarian supporters among the 77,094 crowd. Letchkov strode about a bit in the second half, but when Baggio went off injured with a strain "I don't know which leg," said Italy's coach Arrigo Sacchi and then Stoichkov was withdrawn it really was all over. The Bulgarians chased one 95,000 Featherstone Rovers are offering 60,000. Hull have signed the 19-year-old Kiwi centre Tevita Vaikona, who gained a glowing appraisal from the club's new coach Tony Gordon.

"Vaikona has a few rough edges at the moment," said Gordon, "but give him a season in the English game and he will be a better player than Kevin Iro." Vaikona, from Canterbury Cardinals, toured with the Junior Kiwis last autumn. Featherstone's centre Andy Currier is set to make his comeback against the champions Wigan on August 21. He did not play last season after damaging cruciate knee ligaments in a pre-season friendly. take them confidently IT WAS a day not so much for brave hearts and high hopes as for professionalism. You could feel it come sniffing along, nose in the air, on the wind; an intangible sense of blue blood, of aristocracy.

And with it came the gut feeling that Bulgaria, like so many other teams before them in this tournament, had already had their glorious day. This one would belong to the Azzurri. And so it proved. A full and vibrant two hours before the 4pm kick-off, Giants Stadium thrummed to the sound of beating drums and approaching feet. They came from almost every corner of the football world and even from New York.

Dotted among Rome's young gentlemen, draped only in tattered shorts, immaculate flags and painted faces, were several leftover Norwegians, a hungover Irishman, two Brazilians about 3,000 miles off the pace Faimalo Paul FHzpctrlck LEEDS have been ordered to pay Widnes 95,000 for the New Zealand Test prop Esene Faimalo. The figure is 15,000 more than they had offered but almost 100,000 less than Widnes were demanding. Leeds must pay 65,000 immediately and the remainder by January 1. The 27-year-old Faimalo, a former heavyweight boxer, joined Widnes from the Upper Hutt club in Wellington in October 1990, a year after touring Great Britain with the 1989 Kiwis. The Rugby League's independent tribunal will next week as Rugby League American graffiti Don Beet JOHN MOTSON may find it quite remarkable that Barry Davies is to provide the BBC's commentary for Sunday's World Cup final.

We have become accustomed to Motson's unique style at the last three finals, but Davies has been given his chance in Pasadena after being a member of the BBC's squad since 1970. The corporation's football editor Brian Barwick said: "Barry has earned the opportunity to put his commentary mark on football's major occasion." Quite. IRAN is gripped by World I Cup fever but Islamic purists are outraged about the It will be his first fight in Britain since he knocked out Razor Ruddock at Earls Court in November 1992. If he wins he is almost certain to face the former undisputed champion Rid-dick Bowe in the US early next year for the biggest purse of his career, the larger slice of something close to 20 million. Since Lewis was awarded the WBC title that Bowe relinquished, he has defended it three times, against Tony Tucker, Frank Bruno and Phil Jackson.

The plan to reunify the world titles with a match against the new WBA and IBF champion Michael Moorer has been set aside because of the demands the American's camp Boxing Lewis asking less for Oliver ALL THE CLOSE SEASON NEWS FROM YOUR CLUB MANCHESTER UNITED SOI MANCHESTER CITY 8Q3 LEEDS UNITED LIVERPOOL EVERTON John Rodda LENNOX LEWIS will defend his World Boxing Council heavyweight title at Wembley Arena on September 24 or to be more precise in the early hours of the next morning, since the match will be televised live to the United States for Saturday afternoon viewing. He rights Oliver McCall of the US in a mandatory defence which should generate a live gate of 1 million, a record for a fight held indoors in Britain. Lewis did consider more profitable sites in the US and Canada but preferred the insurance of boxing at home for less money. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 8Q7 QUEENS PARK RANGERS 825 CHELSEA 8Q8 WIMBLEDON 82ft rriTIC 8Q9 SUNDERLAND 827 BANGERS 810 DERBY COUNTY 828 ASTON VILLA 811 MILLWALL 829 WEST HAM UNITED 812 STOKE CITY 83Q NOTTINGHAM FOREST 813 SWINDON TOWN 831 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 814 WOLVES 834 iu.in UNITED 81S LEICESTER CITY 835 uVwratTit UNITED 816 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 832 COVENTRY CITY 817 ENGLAND 833 NORWICH CITY 818 SCOTLAND 844.