SOCCER : Argentina Surprises Germany

Abel Balbo scored the tiebreaking goal in the 65th minute Wednesday and Argentina handed Germany its first defeat since last year, 2-1, in a rematch of the finalists of the past two World Cups at Miami.

The result was a surprise because Germany fielded a much more experienced lineup and Argentina has struggled this year, barely qualifying for the 1994 World Cup.

Argentina’s starting lineup included only five players from its final World Cup qualifying match in November against Australia. Among top players missing was star forward Diego Maradona, who tore a thigh muscle two weeks ago.

The Germans fell to 6-1-2 in international matches this year. Their last loss was to Brazil, 3-1, on Dec. 16, 1992.

Argentina improved to 8-2-7 this year.

The announced crowd at the Orange Bowl was 35,221.

The Germans will try to rebound Saturday against the United States at Palo Alto, Calif.

*

A pre-dawn auto accident left Russian soccer star Sergey Cherbakov fighting for his life in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Portuguese news agency LUSA said Cherbakov, 21, fractured his skull and two vertebrate when the car he was driving smashed into two others on Lisbon’s Avenida de Liberdade.

Cherbakov was conscious and able to talk, but unable to move below the eight and ninth vertebrae, Dr. Paneiro Pinto said.

Cherbakov plays for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal’s first division. Sporting Lisbon President Sousa Cintra said Cherbakov’s soccer career is over and he would be lucky to walk again.

*

The soccer teams from the United States, Sweden, Colombia and Bolivia, all headed for the 1994 World Cup, will play in a tournament Feb. 18-20 at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

*

Piacenza upset AC Milan, 1-0, on a last-minute goal by Gianpietro Piovani to eliminate the powerhouse club from the Italian Cup.