Report by SJG

FRIENDLY

WIGAN ATHLETIC vs MOSCOW TORPEDO

17^th February 1990

PHIL HUGHES HALTS THE RED ARMY

Wigan took a break from their league problems to play host to a strong Russian outfit that included seven full internationals.

Club secretary Mark Blackbourne confirmed that Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev had been sent a special invite to the game as rumour had it that he was a fan of the Wigan side having followed them since they played against Kharkov in the 1970’s when he was assistant secretary of the Ukranian outfit.

Wigan again failed to find their scoring boots and for the third game in a row they failed to find the net.

 At the other end of the park the Northern Ireland keeper, Phil Hughes, did his claim for a recall to the international side no harm with an accomplished display in the Wigan goals.

Wigan went close in the 36^th minute when Steve Senior broke onto a neatly threaded pass and fired in a low drive that forced Valery Sarichev into a diving save.

Half Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Moscow Torpedo.

The Russian side upped the tempo after the break and Latics struggled to match their technical skills as their passing and movement created a number of shooting opportunities but Hughes saved superbly to block a Rogovski strike, then he produced a diving one handed save to turn a Savichev effort around the post.

The Moscow manager, Suren Arakelyan, was full of praise for the Irish keeper after the final whistle and he was also complimentary of the warm welcome that he and his squad had received during their visit to Wigan.

Latics now need to refocus on their League programme with a visit from Ray Lewington’s Fulham side scheduled for the weekend.

Full Time; Wigan Athletic 0-0 Moscow Torpedo.

Attendance; 2,255

Teams; WIGAN (4-5-1) --- Hughes; Senior, Tankard, Atherton, Johnson; Rimmer, Pilling, D. Thompson, Carberry, Ward; Daley; Subs; --- Patterson (for Daley), Page (for Carberry), Parkinson, Griffiths;

DYNAMO MOSCOW (4-4-2) --- Sarichev; Polukarov, Kalaychev, Zhukov, Rogovski; Rudakov, U. Savichev, Gitsalov, N. Savichev; Shirinbekov, Tishkov; Subs; --- Afansiev (for Polukarov), Shutsikov (for Agashkov), Grechnev (for Zhukov), Tishkov (for U. Savichev);

Referee; Mr Joe Worrall (Warrington).