# 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA–OFC play-off)

The 1986 FIFA World Cup UEFA–OFC qualification play-off was a two-legged home-and-away tie between the winners of the Oceania qualifying tournament, Australia, and the second-placed team from the UEFA Group 7, Scotland. The games were played on 20 November and 4 December 1985 in Glasgow and Melbourne respectively. Australia were hoping to play in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974 and Scotland were hoping for a fourth successive FIFA World Cup.

## Background

Scotland had qualified for the play-off by finishing second in their UEFA group, behind Spain. Scotland secured second place in dramatic circumstances with a 1–1 draw against Wales at Ninian Park, Cardiff. Davie Cooper scored a late equalising goal with a penalty kick to give Scotland the point they needed, but manager Jock Stein collapsed and died of a heart attack. This meant that assistant manager Alex Ferguson took charge of the team for the play-off.
Australia finished top of a single four-team group that comprised New Zealand, as well as Israel and Chinese Taipei, both of whom were at the time members of FIFA but were outside their own regional confederations.
| Scotland | Scotland | Round | Australia | Australia |
| Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Spain 64029818  Scotland 63128447  Wales 63127617  Iceland 6105410−62 | Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Spain 64029818  Scotland 63128447  Wales 63127617  Iceland 6105410−62 | Final standings | Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Australia 64202021810  Israel 6312176117  New Zealand 631213767  Chinese Taipei 6006136−350 | Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Australia 64202021810  Israel 6312176117  New Zealand 631213767  Chinese Taipei 6006136−350 |

## Play-off match

In the first leg of the play-off in Hampden Park on 20 November 1985, Scotland took the lead in the 53rd minute from a twenty-yard free kick scored by Davie Cooper, hitting the ball around the wall and into the bottom right hand corner of the net. The second goal arrived in the 59th minute from Frank McAvennie who was making his senior debut for Scotland. He lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper after being set up by a header from Kenny Dalglish. The second leg on 4 December finished goalless which was enough for Scotland to advance to the 1986 FIFA World Cup finals in Mexico.

### First leg

| GK | 1 | Jim Leighton (Aberdeen) |
| DF | 2 | Steve Nicol (Liverpool) |
| DF | 5 | Alex McLeish (Aberdeen) |
| DF | 6 | Willie Miller (Aberdeen) |
| DF | 3 | Maurice Malpas (Dundee United) |
| MF | 8 | Gordon Strachan (Manchester United) |
| MF | 4 | Graeme Souness (c) (Sampdoria) |
| MF | 10 | Roy Aitken (Celtic) |
| MF | 11 | Davie Cooper (Rangers) |
| FW | 7 | Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool) |
| FW | 9 | Frank McAvennie (West Ham United) |
| Substitutions: ||
| Manager: ||
| Alex Ferguson ||
| GK | 1 | Terry Greedy (St. George) |
| DF | 2 | Alan Davidson (Unattached) |
| DF | 3 | Graham Jennings (Sydney Olympic) |
| DF | 4 | Charlie Yankos (Heidelberg United) |
| DF | 5 | David Ratcliffe (St. George) |
| DF | 6 | Steve O'Connor (Sydney City) |
| MF | 7 | Joe Watson (Sydney City) |
| FW | 8 | Kenny Murphy (South Melbourne) |
| MF | 9 | Oscar Crino (Anorthosis Famagusta) |
| FW | 10 | David Mitchell (Eintracht Frankfurt) |
| FW | 11 | John Kosmina (Sydney City) |
| Substitutions: ||
| Manager: ||
| Frank Arok ||
| OFFICIALS Assistant referees: Ivan Gregr (Czechoslovakia) Josef Poncek (Czechoslovakia) | MATCH RULES 90 minutes 2 (of ?) substitutions permitted |

### Second leg

| GK | 1 | Terry Greedy (St. George) |
| DF | 2 | Alan Davidson (Unattached) |
| DF | 3 | Graham Jennings (Sydney Olympic) |
| DF | 4 | Charlie Yankos (Heidelberg United) |
| DF | 5 | David Ratcliffe (St. George) |
| DF | 6 | Robbie Dunn (Preston Makedonia) |
| MF | 7 | Jim Patikas (Sydney Croatia) |
| FW | 8 | Kenny Murphy (South Melbourne) |
| MF | 9 | Oscar Crino (Anorthosis Famagusta) |
| FW | 10 | David Mitchell (Eintracht Frankfurt) |
| FW | 11 | John Kosmina (Sydney City) |
| Substitutions: ||
| Manager: ||
| Frank Arok ||
| GK | 1 | Jim Leighton (Aberdeen) |
| DF | 2 | Richard Gough (Dundee United) |
| DF | 5 | Alex McLeish (Aberdeen) |
| DF | 6 | Willie Miller (Aberdeen) |
| DF | 3 | Maurice Malpas (Dundee United) |
| MF | 8 | Paul McStay (Celtic) |
| MF | 4 | Graeme Souness (c) (Sampdoria) |
| MF | 10 | Roy Aitken (Celtic) |
| MF | 11 | Davie Cooper (Rangers) |
| FW | 7 | David Speedie (Chelsea) |
| FW | 9 | Frank McAvennie (West Ham United) |
| Substitutions: ||
| Manager: ||
| Alex Ferguson ||
| OFFICIALS Assistant referees: Romualdo Arppi Filho (Brazil) Carlos Felix Ferreira (Brazil) | MATCH RULES 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary Penalty shoot-out if scores still level: 2 (of 2) substitutions permitted |

## Aftermath

Scotland qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup Finals in Mexico and were drawn into Group E with West Germany, Uruguay and debutants Denmark. Scotland lost 1–0 to Denmark and 2–1 to West Germany. Scotland had to beat Uruguay and Uruguay played with ten men and drew 0–0. Scotland finished bottom in the group on one point.