The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 18

THE GUARDIAN Thursday October 12 1989 United left in Knighton daze Group Two: Poland 0, England 0 SMtioiro ennsamres quaD-offied, success 18 SPORTS NEWS David Laesy In Katowice Stephen Bteriey on the end of the Old Trafford takeover tussle or is it? where he is today by shirking the awkward question or two. Attack being the best form of defence a maxim familiar to Busby's team but apparently forgotten by the present version Knighton lammed into the chaps. No names, no pack drill, but Robert Maxwell's silver-tongued hammer, down on his head for SO days and more, had done its damage. "I have been vilified," declared Knighton, among many other things too tedious to relate. Everything had "spiralled out of all and "no, I did not bite off more than I could The press, he claimed, had created a Frankenstein had got out of control.

Martin Edwards agreed. "The press has had an absolute nightmare," he declared, hurriedly correcting "nightmare" to "field Knighton then admitted there had indeed been mistakes. "You can always make mistakes. I did not perceive my partners would not stay with me. I did not have a crystal ball." Why had he pulled out? "In the interests of Manchester United.

I could have done it all on my own." He added that he might also have sold bis majority shareholding to become "a very wealthy man But wasn't he already a very wealthy man? Ah, there's the rub. As from the very beginning, nothing much added up, be it in multiples of 10 million or anything else. Question followed question, but all was screened by pious smoke. Of course, neither Edwards nor Knighton has done anything wrong. Edwards merely tried to sell up and picked the wrong man.

Knighton merely tried to do the deal of football deals and fell on his dignity. "It has been a long eight weeks," remarked Edwards as he wearily brought matters to a close, however temporarily. Nobody argued. So with a chairman and chief executive who wants to sell but cannot, and a brand-new executive director who wanted to buy but could still need that extra bit of inspiration if they are to make any sort of impression in Italy next year. From the outset, England were left in no doubt that what had been a stroll at Wembley on a gentle June day was not going to be followed up by a Cakewalk on a chilly Silesian evening.

If anything, the outlook was decidedly slippery. Poland took the field with only five of the team which had been beaten so soundly earlier this -year and only three of those had started that match. The Polish attitude was briskly aggressive where once it had been tacitly acquiescent, and immediately they showed every intention of running at England with the ball and attempting ambitious exchanges of passes going into the penalty area. Any side that can out-manoeuvre England's midfield and show defenders the ball always has chances provided they can beat Shilton. The Poles had clearly done their homework on England's suspect full-backs, Stevens and Pearce, doubling up on them at every opportunity and getting behind them to produce the sort of centres calculated to cause central defenders the maximum discomfort England were not helped by Waddle's disinclination to defend effectively on the left, 'while Rocastle often found things beyond him on the other flank.

For most of the first half, therefore, England found themselves shaking persistent Poles out of their hair. First Kosecki turned sharply inside Pearce, and had Dziekanowski realised that Krzystof Warzycha was better placed behind him he would surely nave let the ball run. But he shot off balance and Shilton saved easily. In fact, it was almost the last easy save he had to make. The England goalkeeper had to move rather more urgently just before the quarter-hour when Robert Warzycha's 20-yard drive was well aimed inside the right-hand post.

Belying his years, Shilton flung himself across goal to touch the ball wide. Just before the half-hour, England were again exposed on the right as Nawrocki found Robert Warzycha overlapping Kosecki and sprinting past Pearce to the byline. Dziekanowski must have thought he had" prwruceffago'alcor5ng" header as he rose to meet the centre with a firm downward nod, but Shilton was there to hold the ball. He was there again five minutes later when Czachowski tried one from 35 yards, and yet again when the same player attempted to chip him from the corner of the penalty area. While England managed to punctuate all this Polish pressure with sporadic attacks, there was little before half-time to worry Bako apart from a INGLAND Qualified for I the 1990 World Cup last 'night but with more than a few qualifica tions.

They got the point they needed to reach next summer's finals in Italy by holding a rebuilt and confident Poland team to a goalless draw, but whether or not Bobby Robson's players will achieve anything more than a suntan will be the subject of much discussion over the coming months. Had it not been for outstanding goalkeeping in the first half by Peter Shilton, and the breadth of the crossbar, which kept out a 25-yard shot from Tarasiewicz in the last minute when even Shilton was beaten, England would still be wearing wrinkled brows, fretting about Sweden's visit to Poland in a fortnight's time and casting a wary eye on the other four-nation groups. Shilton, 40 a month ago, made four superb saves before half-time as Poland ran England ragged in their own half, outnumbering Robson and McMa-hon in the middle and consistently outflanking the fullbacks on either wing. During this period of the game, Robson's format looked tired and dated, and incapable of stopping a side playing with imagination, cunning, skill and speed. And Poland, remember, are out of the World Cup.

They had to their remaining qualifiers even to stand a chance of getting to Italy. Last night the Poles were playing for a bit of pride and whatever the future may hold, but they still managed to put England into a rather humble perspective. Bobby Robson has now qualified for two World Cups and a European Championship during his seven years as England manager, and his teams have lost only one qualifying fixture in either of those competitions. However, the pattern of last night's game could not help but remind you of England's poor record in tournaments proper: only two matches won, one drawn and five lost. The England manager has much work to do before he takes his squad to Italy and will need to produce some alternatives, to judge from yesterday's performance.

It might help to begin wife if He "finds a fallback or two. At least he knows be is well served in goal. Sixteen years ago, the young Shilton left the same stadium in Chorzow mortified by the experience of losing 2-0 to Poland. Now he has finally laid the ghost of Jan Tomaszewski, whose inspired goalkeeping denied Alf Ramsey the victory over Poland he needed at Wembley later in 1973. As long as Shilton remains fit and in form England will always have a chance of survival, but they raised, hopes to be excused for not stopping Krzysztof Warzycha front getting in his kick Passing shot Lineker, hand speculative shot by Robson and a brief-threat-after Rocastle had sentiMiajabSBsayJsmstiie right.

In fact, England did not achieve their first really penetrative movement of the game until two minutes before half-time when Lineker and McMa-hon created some space on the left for the previously ineffective Waddle, whose cross almost beat Bako; the goalkeeper grabbing the ball at the second attempt with Robson stealing in at the far post. In the second half, as the Group Five: France 3, IN THE 1960s somebody wrote a calypso about Matt Busby and his team. It ran: "Manchester, Oh Manchester United. They deserve to be knighted." Yesterday United got Michael Knighton. Whether they deserve it, time alone will tell.

Eight weeks ago Mr "Shy and Retiring" of the Isle of Man, or Killocban castle, or 110 Luck Lane, Yorkshire, faced a friendly bunch of chaps who listened agog while the 37-year-old former schoolboy football prodigy and present property tycoon told a charming tide of Lady Destiny and her help in launching him smoothly along the road to owning Manchester United. So self-effacing and ordinary did he seem that you suspected not a single mirror hung in his many mansions. "I am green," he admitted on the point of becoming the biggest Red of them all. The sums were added up and all seemed well: 10 million for Martin Edwards; 10 million to the rest of the shareholders if they wanted to sell. And, lest it be forgotten, 10 milon for refurbishing the Stretford End.

That is 30 million. "Not much in commercial terms," insisted Knighton, running out at Old Trafford the very next day in a coveted Man shirt, shorts and socks, heading a football all the way to the unrefurbished Stretford Enders. Oh how they cheered, and oh how the team responded, whacking Arsenal 4-1. Knighton days, they were the ones. But suddenly all was not what it seemed; the gaps in Knighton's CV, so readily given out on August 18, grew larger and more unfathomable.

So it was that yesterday another group of chaps assembled at Old Trafford, this time with rather less inclination to listen. Answers were demanded. Three hours of far from patient waiting were eventually rewarded. The television lights went up, the flashlights popped, tapes ran and pens were poised. But Mr Knighton did not get Results England 0)O Group Four (0 1 Bowen 9.025 Oroup Fhra France (1)3 Oeschamps.

Cantona Durand Yugoslavia 1. Norway 0. (0)0 30,000 Is tannings A Pta 0 14 5 II 2 11 11 9 2 8 7 2 1 4 9 8 0 1 5 5 16 1 Oct 2D Cyprus Yuuo- slavla. Nov IS Scotland Norway. Nov 18 France Cyprus.

Oroup Stat Rot Ireland (1)3 Whelan, Cascarino Houghton Hungary 2, Spain 2. 101 0 45,800 btanaings irk 1 16 3 11 1 8 2 lO 18 8 8 5 6 12 8 5 3 16 2 nemeWng games! Nov 18 Spain Hungary, Malta Rep ol Ireland. Oroup Onw (Varna): Bulgaria 4, Greece 0. Copenhagen): Denmark 3, Romania 0. Oroup Sevan! Switzerland 2, Belgium Portugal 3, Luxembourg 0.

EUROPEAN U-21 CHAMPIONSHIP! Oroup Sub Hungary 1, Spain 0. MINDLY INTERNATIONAL (Larnaca): Malta 0, Cyprus 0. BOB LORD TROPHVt First round, first legi Cheltenham 1, Telford 0: Farnboro Tn 1, Merthyr Tyd 2. QM VAUXHALL CONFEIWNClj Boston 1, Barnet 2. BEAZtn HOMES UAQUEl Udtaeid Wv- Falont Banbury 1, Bilston 0: Leicester 1, Redditch 2.

Southern DMstsni Canterbury 0, Fareham 0. BASS NW COUNTIES LSAOUIl First Division! Leyland Mlrs 1, Clitheroe 0. OREAT MILLS LEAGUE! Premier OMelara Sldeford 0, Dawlish Tn Ftadstock Tn 3, Frome Tn 1: Saltash Uld 1. Chard Tn 1: Tor-rington 4, Plymouth Arg 0. CLUSCALL CUPt Flrat round! Atherslone 0.

Witton 1: Bishop Auck 2, Stalybridge Buxton 0, Cambridge 3: Corby 2, Burton 1: Morecambe 0, Colne Dynamo 2: Redbridge 2, Harrow 3 (aet): Liverpool 3, Caernarfon 4. POHTINS CENTRAL LEAOUEl Flrat Div ialoni Blackburn 3, Bradford Huddersfield 0. Coventry 1 Leeds 1 Shelf Utd Nottm 0, Man Uld 1. Second rJMelon! Blackpool 0, Middlesbro Bolton 0, Preston 0: Port Vale 2. Barnsley 1.

OVBHDBN PAPERS COMBINATION! Brighton 4, Charlton 2: FulhamO, Ham 0: Ipswich 3, Chelsea 1: Reading 0, Palace 3. Rugby Union CLUB MATCHES! Gloucester 43. Exeler Univ Maesteg 21. Cross Keys 15: Newbridge 25, Abeniilery 12: Wasps 25, Loughborough Unlv 17: Ponrypool 54, Monmouthshire 3. Rugby LoagiM TOUR MATCH Bradford Northern (4) 8, Hew Iceland (10) 38.

Bradford Northern! Trleai Mackay 2. New Zealand! Trleai Kemp. Iro, Edwards, Clark. Ooales Bancroft 5 BRITISH COAL YOUTH LEAOUEl Hull 20. Oldham 14: Warrington 20, St Helens 22.

Tennis AUSTRALIAN INDOOR TOURNAMENT (Sydney): First round! Kratimann (Aus) 61 a Wasek (Swite) 6-1 2-6, 7-6; I Undl (Cz bt Menezes (Br) 6-2, 6-0. Seoond round! Hogstadt (Swe) bt Masur (Aus) 5-7. 6-4. 6-2; WaMgren (Swe) bt C-U Sleeb (WQ) 1-0. 6-4.

6-4. VIRO.INIA SLIMS TOURNAMENT (Moscow): First round! Moofchl (USSR) bt Paradis (Fr) 6-4. 6-4: Skriver (US) bt Field (Aus) 6-2. 6-2: Savchenko (USSR) bt Svigierova (Cz) 6-2, 8-0; Magero (US) bt Jsggard (Aus) 6-2. 6-3; Van Noetrsnd (US) Pawlik (WQ) 2-6, 6-1, 8-4: SSiindrisal (San) bt Ivagalsen (US) 2-6.

Soccer WORLDCUP' Oroup Two Poland (0)O 30.000 Standings -W a A Pta England 6 3 3 0 10 0 ITxiiUll 5 3 2 0 7 3 8 Poland 4 112 2 5 3 Albania 5 0 0 5 2 13 SwaaioTf norland (1) a Rutges, Bosnian Yugoslavia I Norway 7 Cyprus 6 Hinielning pamoai Bop Ireland 7 4 Hungary 7 2 Ireland 8 2 Scotland's errors prove costly Group Six: Rep of Ireland 3, Ireland 0 Republic have a foothold in Italy not, and a boardroom about as united as Ireland, Ferguson and his team go in search of a Championship which has eluded the club for 22 years. The sound of laughter from Anfield was almost audible on the evening's westerly wind. WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT (Filderstadt, WG): Second round: 3eh (Yug) bt Hannlka (WG) 6-3. 6-4; van Rsndaburg (SA) bt Porwik (WG) 7-5. 6-3; Fernandez (US) bt Wassermann (Bel) 6-1.

6-0; Zrubakova (Cz) bt Su-kova (Cz) 6-3. 6-2; Oarrlaen (US) bt Reinach (SA) 6-4. 6-1. EXHIBmON MATCH (Jakarta): Chang (US) bt Meclr (Cz) 7-5. 6-4.

Crlekot WARM-UP HATCH (Delhi): England 263-4 (W Larkins 103, A mith 70, A Lamb 39no). Railways 126 (K Bharatan 59; A Fraser 4-21, PA OeFreitas 1-15, Capel 1-15, Pringle 2-12, A Gooch 1-12). England won by 137 runs. FOUR-DAY MATCH (Harare): Second dam Zimbabwe 344-9 dec (D Houghton 166; Gray 5-70). Young West Indies were 63-1.

Bad light stopped play. Hockey BUTTERMEN MD00R LEAOUE (Crystal Palace): Dulwich 1, Wimbledon 6. Becken-ham 6, Weybridge Hawks Dulwich 8, Wey-bridge hawks Beckenham 2, Wimbledon 3. RUSHMOOR INDOOR LEAOUE (Alder-shot): Women's Premier Division: Portsmouth 8, Sevenoaks Slough 4, Ealing Slough 5, Sevenoaks 0 (wo); Ealing 7, Portsmouth 0. TYPHOO INDOOR LEAOUEl Sutton Cold-field 0, Leicester 0.

Basketball HATWEST TROPHYi Bracknell 111. London 64: Kingston 108. Solent 74. Squash WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (Singapore). Oroup At Pakistan 3.

Sweden New Zealand 3. Scotland 0 (NZ names first): Norman bt Maclean 9-2. 9-1 9-5; Watt bt Ellis 9-6. 9-3, 9-7: 8 HaitUon bt Sword 9-5. 9-6, 9-4; Canada 2, France 1.

Oroup Bi Australia 3, Finland England 3, Netherlands 0 (England names first): Dec-eon bt Frieling 7-9. 9-1: NtcoBe bt Schatfer 2-9. 9-7. 9-2. 9-8; 8 Parke bt Van Der Pluym 3-9.

9-2. 9-3, 9-0; Egypi 3, Singapore 0. Snooker ROTH MAMS op (Reading): Third round! Wattana (Thai) bt Francisco (SA) 5-2: Otbaon (Eng) bt TGrifliths (Wal) 5-2: Virgo (Eng) bt Longworth (Eng) 5-4: RowsweS (Eng) bt Wilson (Wal) 5-4; Taylor (N Ire) bt Campbell (Aus) 5-3; WhHe (Eng) bt Campbell (ng) 5-0; Theme (Eng) bl (N Ire) 5-2: Dodd (Eng) bl Williams (Eng) 5-3: Newbury (Wal) bt Oliver (Eng) 5. LONDON MASTERS (Cafe Royal): Ouartor- flnah Thome (Eng) bl Davis (Eng) 4-3. Boxing PROFESSIONAL BILL (London Arena).

Llghl-nilddraeicliiht for the BritJah cham-Ploriahlpi Oary Stretch (St Helens) bt Derek Wormald (Rochdale) rsl 1. Featherweight! CeUn McMMkt (Barking) bt Marcel Herbert (Newport) pis. Super-fesrtherwekjhb Mark Tltobe (West Ham) bt David Crott (Doncaster) rsl 5. light uJdillewilglitJ Brian Robinson (Hastings) bt Andy Furlong (Hammersmith) pts: Tony CeWns (Yateley) bl Gary Pember-ton (Newport) ko V. Chrte Pyett (Leicester) bt Wayne Harris (Guyana) rsl 3.

Rallying SAN RENO (Genoa): Leading standings (alter third stage): 1, Sainz (Sp) Toyota Celica. 4hr 56min 45sec: 2, A Fiorio (It) Lancia Delta, at imin; 3. Biaslon (It) Lancia Delta, 1.41. Judo WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Belgrade): Mem MkkSwelgM! Ookb Canu (Fr). Savon Spykers (Neth).

BroncM A Lobenstein (EG); Freudenberg (WG). Ught-heavy-welghti Ookb Kurtanldze (USSR). SSven Baliuynnyan (Mong). Bronzet Melting (WG); Van de Walla (Bel). Woment Ughl-keavywelghti Ooldi I Berghmans (Bel).

Seven Tanabe (Jap). Bronaot A Batalller (Fr): Wu (China). Ic Hockey NATIONAL LEAOUEl Calgary 4. New Jersey 2: Pittsburgh 5, Winnipeg l. Fixtures (7.30 unless stated) Soccer CLUSCALL CUPi Fkat round! Horwlch Bangor C.

OVENDBN PAPERS COMBINATION! Arsenal Southampton. Rugby League JOHN SkHtWS YORKSHIIUI CUPi SensV Patrick atom In Paris AFTER a night of appalling defensive errors at the Pare des Princes in Paris, Scotland are going to need their third bite at qualifying for the World Cup finals in the last match of the series against. Norway in Glasgow on November 15. Despite playing against 10 men after Dl Meco was ordered off early in the second half, Andy Roxburgh's squad slit their own throats when they conceded goals to Didier Deschamps in the first half and to Eric Cantona midway through the second. A third two minutes from the end by Durand just added to the misery.

After the match, Roxburgh blamed the defeat on "a rush of blood to the head when France were down to ten "It's all about bravery now," he said. "We simply can't let the fans down now. In fact, the best Scottish performance of the night came from the terraces." extraordinarily, who was first shown the yellow card when he foutedosecki. Certainly England appeared more relaxed the longer the game went on, and were able to mount a series of relatively composed attacks, whereas earlier they had just crossed the halfway line in hope rather than anticipation. A free-kick from Beardsley and a header forward by Robson ended with Lineker just too late to embarrass Bako.

Just when England seemed home and, if not dry in the rain- well wide. The French keeper was cautioned immediately afterwards for dissent. Then, seconds before the half-time whistle, McCoist bad the kind of opportunity which he would normally convert without thinking. MacLeod, out on the left, sent a low drive towards the goal and the ball was deflected straight to McCoist who, from only six yards, sent his left-foot volley crashing against the crossbar. It had seemed easier to score.

Long before then, Gough had twice come close to inflicting damage with headers from corners by Strachan on the right. Clearly well-rehearsed, the manoeuvre on both occasions produced those flush headers for which Gough is celebrated, and Bats twice had to make the save on the ground. Incredibly, McCoist missed again from a similar distance only minutes into the second half and shortly before the ordering off of Di Meco and France's second goal, at a time when the visitors themselves had appeared likely to resistance Southall made a magnificent save to deny Bosnian. Wales came close to equalising through Saunders in the 68th minute. Two minutes later Bosnian's cracking downward header virtually settled the outcome, and shortly afterwards Van Basten came on to emphasise the Dutch quality.

There was Welsh consolation with Bowen's late goal, courtesy of a dreadful defensive mix-up. WALES! SouthaH (Everlon); Slartmaca (Manchester U), Bowen (Norwich). Nicholas (Chelsea). Hopkins (Crystal Palace), Maotar IPortsmouthl. Saundera (Partly).

Phllllpa (Norwich). Roberta (Watford; donee, Charlton, 64mln). WRearns (Deify; Pascoe. Sunderland, 85), Uan (Norwich). HOLLAND! Van reaa.eleiil Van Aorta, Rutjaa, Koeman, Hoot, WMrtera, Vanf Schls, Horaces, KleR, Rake (Boaasan, 40), BNBMiaBB IVK1 CIIIMII, iuj.

ROM Atrn. swent Slaski stadium, then mightily relieved, Tarasiewicz. MJly.fMm,beyniLthe penalty area and for once Shilton was powerless. But the ball rebounded from the England crossbar, and so a place in Italy was theirs. POtAHD; BjkmCuclKmjfcl, Keczmerok, (Furtofc, STmin).

INOUHD: Shltton (Darby); StaiMi (Hangers), wur Nonm i-orj. (flangara), Pawca (Nottm For), i Mr. arum. Keafcon TUverooon. (Manchastsr U.

WadcBa (Marseille), Un-Jtar (Tottenham), rdrtay (Liverpool). Befe-wei Aladren (Spain). equalise. Johnston had bro ken down tne rignt, ana nis low cross looked certain to be headed away by McCoist, but the Rangers striker merely glanced it wide of the post. Di Meco was cautioned a minute later for a challenge on Strachan, and when, only 60 seconds later, he administered similar treatment to Johnston, he was sent off.

Only 10 minutes later, as the Scots tried to substitute Mclnally for Strachan in an attempt to take advantage of superior numbers, Cantona broke away to score the killer goal. A flick from Ferrer! sent Cantona away as the Scottish defence claimed wrongly offside. The big forward hit the ball off Leighton and over the line. FRANCE! lata) SSveetre, Meco, La floux- (Caaoml, h-t), Sauzee, Ferdo, Oasehamps, Parax (Bravo, 81min, Durand, Ferrari, Cantona, SCOTLAND) Leighton IManehesler Ui; dough (Rangers). Malpae (Dundee U), Nlcol (Liverpool), McLelsh (Aberdeen), Allken (Celtic), Strachan (Leeds Nclnally, Bayern Munich.

64), Holler (Celtic), MeColat (Rangers), Johnston (Rangers). Msnleod (Borussfa Dortmund; Bett, AberaMt), 75). Roerhltsberger (Swim). Sailing Gryshenko dead ALEXEI GRYSHENKO, co-skipper of the Soviet entry in the Whitbread Round the World Race, has been found dead, writes Bob Fisher. Uruguayan police called off a nationwide search when Gryshenko, who had been reported missing from Punta del Este, was found hanging from a tree in a forest a half-mile from the port early yesterday.

They did not say whether foul play was suspected. Gryshenko, who allegedly suffered fits of depression, had been involved with the Soviet yacht Pepsi-Fazisi since the design stage and the radically designed 82-footer surprised many when she finished sixth on the first leg. Poles lost- a little of then zip ana Began playing to oeat stm-. ton with lohgf speculative shots instead of trying to get in close, it began to look as though England had survived the worst. But the Poles were still dangerous on the flanks and gave themselves added pace on the left just before the hour by replacing Krzysztof Warzycha withFurtok.

And there was still the menace on the right which at times could only be answered by desperate fouls from Pearce, although it was Waddle, rather Scotland 0 Scotland's alarming and apparently incurable capacity for conceding bad goals could not have been more starkly demonstrated than when they conceded that opener to Deschamps after 27 minutes. At a time when it seemed that they had totally subdued the French Leighton had not been called upon to take any exercise there was suddenly a break on the left. Deschamps appeared to have no target at which to- aim, but Leighton allowed a foot of daylight between body and near post, and the French midfielder squeezed his left-foot shot through the gap. It was all the more sickening for the visiting fans because it was Bats who, before and after that goal, had much more to worry him. In the minute before the interval the Scots could easily have scored twice.

Bats was penalised for carrying the ball too far, but the indirect free-kick inside the area was squandered as McStay's short pass to MacLeod was hurriedly driven Hughes up front, played Allen of Norwich and Roberts of Watford in their place, with the Derby striker Saunders behind them. Allen, in particular, gave the Dutch defence some nervous moments. Dutch security was not helped by a greasy ball which van Breukelen struggled to hold firmly, causing the former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper to scramble shots away, but he responded well to deal with two fine free-kicks from Maguire. Koeman's strike from 30 yards hit Southall's right-hand upright and set up a succession of Dutch efforts. The goalkeeper and captain saved from the rebound with his legs; Hopkins deflected the next shot and Nicholas cleared a third before laying tactics were slow-hand-clapped, might even have taken the lead after 25 minutes.

Michael O'Neill first wriggled round McCarthy to be thwarted by Bonner's legs. Then he crossed low from the right and Bonner could only help the ball on to Dennison, but McCarthy scrambled back to clear. The sense of destiny that Charlton was to speak of and in which their fans have always believed was reinforced when the Republic took the lead just before half-time. The pressurised Dunlop, deemed less vulnerable than McKnight, could only punch Staunton's cross from the left to Whelan on the edge of the area, and he side footed smartly home. Now the Republic relaxed, Whelan assumed control and, with Sheedy tidying up in mid-field and Houghton running effectively at the Ulstermen, Cas-carino looked ever more dangerous up front.

Two minutes into the second half Whelan played a splendid ball to Sheedy on the right and Cascarino, first to his hanging cross, headed powerfully home. Nine minutes later Houghton, picked out by Sheedy after a neat move involving Townsend, who had replaced the injured McGrath, scored with a low 20-yard shot. Thereafter it became a question of whether Aldridge would score his second goal in 27 internationals. On four occasions he got his head to crosses, once being denied by a post, but his team-mates seemed sated and the serious business of partying could begin. REPUBLIC Or IRIUUIDi Bonner (Celtic); Morris (Celtic), Staunton (Liverpool; O'Leary.

Arsenal, McCarthy (Lyons), Moran (Sporting Gllon), Whelan (Liverpool), Townsend (Norwich), Houghton (Liverpool), Aldridg (Real So-ciedad). Cascarino (M.lwall). Sheeny (Evorton). NORTHBtN IRELAND! Dunfap (Linfleld); Fleming (Manchester C), Worthing! on (Shsflleld Wed), Ooneghy (Manchester U), McDonald (QPR) MeCreery (Hearts; OWeM, Motherwell, 71), WaeoM (Luton), OWeM (Dundee WSson, Chelsea, cane (UPH), wnnaalje (Evenon), i iwotvea). POElia (Italy).

Ian Ridley In Dublin THE Republic of Ireland look like a team whose time is coming. Their ultimately, comfortable victory over Northern Ireland in delirious Dublin yesterday afternoon, followed by Hungary's 2-2 draw with Spain five hours later, puts them on the brink of the World Cup finals for the first time. Only defeat in Malta next month, coupled with a Hungarian victory by an improbably large margin in Seville, where Spain have never lost, can deny the Republic a place in Italy. The Republic's supporters' ceilidh after their team's victory was interrupted only by news from Budapest: Spain led 2-0 then Hungary pulled one back through Pinter. Irish TV prematurely flashed an announcement that the Republic were through, but then in another Pinteresque silence, in Ireland at least the same player equalised for Hungary eight minutes from time.

Earlier, Lansdowne Road had been at its most clamorous and celebratory as Jack Charlton's team employed their customary industry and simplicity to overcome technical defects. "We have looked all the time like we were going to get there," said Charlton, whose side's qualifying campaign has included four home wins without a goal conceded. "It was a very emotional game," he added of only the fourth meeting between the two Irish sides. "You couldn't motivate the lads for this one you had to bring them down. They were all very tense, and it showed in our game." Indeed, for 43 minutes the anxiety hung heavily.

Whiteside's china-shopping he was booked after 75 seconds for his part in the felling of Houghton and Wilson's skill on the ball denied the Republic's midfield the advantage they sought Northern Ireland, whose de Group Four: Wales 1 Holland 2 Dutch go top despite Southall's Cynthia Oatunan at Wrexham WALES were outclassed at Wrexham last night by a Holland side who moved to the top of Group Four, overtaking West Germany, and became favourites to go to Italy as leaders of the section. The Welsh responded bravely with an 89th-minute goal by the Norwich full-back Mark Bowen, but the group's bottom team face completing she qualifying matches without a win. After 12 minutes, Ronald Koe-man's free-kick from wide on the right was met by the fullback Ruties, whose powerful header into the top of the net was a beauty. The Welsh, without Rush and.