More on Baggies hero Igor

16 April 2002

It's uncanny. Last week we published a piece from the Slovakian edition of Pravda, saying how Igor was looking forward to the next Albion penalty. At least, that's what we think it said. A few days later, Albion get a penalty - Igor takes it, cool as you like, and keeps us ahead in the race for second spot and automatic promotion. So here's what they had to say today:

Thanks to Jon Sinton, who got his Slovakian friend Hana Simkovicova to translate it for us as follows:

Balis? goal took West Bromwich a step closer to the elite

Slovak soccer player Igor Balis settled the crucial victory of his team, West Bromwich Albion, with his penalty kick in the 45th round of the English 1st division at the Bradford City ground, taking his team a step closer to the elite.

Balis, after a 0:0 stalemate with the game already in extra time, scored the penalty kick, which meant West Bromwich gained 3 points. Whilst his countryman Stanislav Varga did not even sit on the bench, Balis played all game and was one of the best players on the pitch.

?The Penalty kick was excellently scored and you have to be in that situation to understand what high pressure Balis was under. So far this season we have scored so few penalty kicks, that we assigned our cleaning lady Mo to take them. It was definitely a penalty kick. Our players have got motivation not to give up easily,? said WBA trainer Gary Megson.

West Bromwich need to win in the last round on their home ground on the 21st April against Crystal Palace to get to the Premiership. Two teams proceed to the elite division, with Manchester City already up.

Previous Stories:

  10 April 2002:  Igor Speaks - but what's he saying?

  04 April 2002:  Wolves open the door

  04 April 2002:  FA strike at "Bin Warnock" (updated)

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