Belgium Ousts the Soviet Union, 4-3, in Extra Periods

LEON, Mexico — Belgium shocked the Soviet Union in overtime on goals by Stephane Demol and Nico Claesen Sunday, winning 4-3 to join Mexico in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

The Belgians, who finished third in Group B, twice came from behind in regulation to tie the score and send the game into overtime. In the first of two 15-minute extra periods, Demol crept behind the defense and headed in a long pass by Eric Gerets at 13 minutes.

The tiring Soviets allowed another goal three minutes into the second extra session when Claesen volleyed a right-foot kick home from 20 yards.

The Soviets, winners of Group C, got one goal back when Igor Belanov scored on a penalty kick, his third goal of the game and fourth of the tournament.

However, the Soviets had little energy left and each time they got within range of the Belgian net, goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff foiled them.

Belgium will play the winner of Wednesday’s Denmark-Spain game in the third-round match next Sunday in Puebla.

Belanov gave the Soviets a 1-0 lead at 27 minutes. Racing to his right at the top of the penalty area, he booted the ball into the upper left corner of the net. The ball banked in off the top of the goalpost as Pfaff could only watch.

Belgium’s Enzo Scifo tied it in the 56th minute, but Belanov scored again with 20 minutes remaining. The Soviet attacker took a pass from Alexander Zavarov at the edge of the penalty area and put the ball into the far corner. But the Belgians tied the game again seven minutes later. Captain Jan Ceulemans sneaked behind the Soviet defense and a lob pass by Demol hit him in stride, just barely avoiding an offside call. Ceulemans easily beat goalie Rinat Desaev.