1969 Intercontinental Cup

Summary

The 1969 Intercontinental Cup was a two-legged association football match contested between 1968–69 European Cup champions Milan and 1969 Copa Libertadores winners Estudiantes de La Plata. It was the 10th edition of the competition.

1969 Intercontinental Cup
EventIntercontinental Cup
on aggregate
First leg
Date8 September 1969 (1969-09-08)
VenueSan Siro, Milan
RefereeRoger Machin (France)
Attendance60,675
Second leg
Date22 October 1969 (1969-10-22)
VenueLa Bombonera, Buenos Aires
RefereeDomingo Massaro (Chile)
Attendance45,000
1968
1970

The first leg was played at the San Siro in Milan, on 8 October 1969. Milan won the home game 3–0. The return leg was held on 22 October, at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires. Despite suffering a 2–1 defeat, Milan won the title on aggregate.

Violence on pitch edit

 
A bleeding Néstor Combin attended by doctors after being stuck in the face by Ramón Aguirre Suárez

Amongst other things, the tie became infamous for the violent on-pitch conduct and dirty tactics employed by Estudiantes' players in the second leg of the fixture.[1]

Estudiantes' players used violence from the beginning, with Alberto Poletti and Ramón Aguirre Suárez throwing balls to a group of Milan players that were practising on the field prior to the match. With the game already in progress, Eduardo Manera pushed around goalkeeper Fabio Cudicini, then he bit Saul Malatrasi. Aguirre Suárez (one of the most violent players) injured Néstor Combin and Pierino Prati, although he would not be expelled until another violent action against Gianni Rivera.[2]

After a match which saw two Italian players badly assaulted, events took a turn for the surreal when stretcher-bound Milan striker Néstor Combin was arrested by Argentine police for draft dodging (Combin had been born in Argentina but had represented France at international level, having moved to Europe for his professional career). The match had immediate political ramifications, partly due to Argentina's bid for the World Cup in 1978. Many of the team's players were arrested and goalkeeper Alberto Poletti, who had punched Milan's "golden boy" playmaker Gianni Rivera, kicked Combin and had clashed with supporters after the match, was handed a life ban. Ramon Suárez, who had broken the nose of Combin, was banned from international fixtures for five years. The match is also partly to blame for a subsequent boycott of the tournament by European teams.

No, Estudiantes ... that was not manhood, it was not temperament, it was not spirit... this has been apologetics for brutality and madness ... this has embarrassed us all and those responsible should be ashamed. If we really want to continue believing in something in the future, let's start by repudiating this unfortunate episode.

— Journalist Julio César Pasquato blaming players of Estudiantes for the violence against their rivals[2]

First leg edit

Match details edit

Milan  3–0  Estudiantes (LP)
  • Sormani   8', 71'
  • Combin   45'
Report
Attendance: 60,675
Referee: Roger Machin (France)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Milan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estudiantes (LP)
GK   Fabio Cudicini
DF   Saul Malatrasi
DF   Angelo Anquilletti
DF   Roberto Rosato
DF   Karl-Heinz Schnellinger
MF   Giovanni Lodetti
MF   Gianni Rivera (c)
MF   Romano Fogli
FW   Angelo Sormani
FW   Néstor Combin   65'
FW   Pierino Prati
Substitutes:
MF   Giorgio Rognoni   65'
Manager:
  Nereo Rocco
GK   Alberto José Poletti
DF   Ramón Aguirre Suárez
DF   José Hugo Medina
DF   Raúl Horacio Madero
DF   Oscar Malbernat (c)
MF   Carlos Bilardo
MF   Néstor Togneri
MF   Juan Miguel Echecopar   60'
MF   Eduardo Flores
FW   Marcos Conigliaro
FW   Juan Ramón Verón
Substitutes:
MF   Felipe Ribaudo   60'
Manager:
  Osvaldo Zubeldía

Second leg edit

Match details edit

Estudiantes (LP)  2–1  Milan
Report
Attendance: 45,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estudiantes (LP)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Milan
GK   Alberto José Poletti
DF   Eduardo Luján Manera
DF   Ramón Aguirre Suárez
DF   Raúl Horacio Madero
DF   Oscar Malbernat (c)
MF   Carlos Bilardo   55'
MF   Daniel Romeo
MF   Néstor Togneri
FW   Marcos Conigliaro
MF   Juan Taverna
FW   Juan Ramón Verón
Substitutes:
MF   Juan Miguel Echecopar   55'
Manager:
  Osvaldo Zubeldía
GK   Fabio Cudicini
DF   Saul Malatrasi   54'
DF   Angelo Anquilletti
DF   Roberto Rosato
DF   Karl-Heinz Schnellinger
MF   Giovanni Lodetti
MF   Gianni Rivera (c)
MF   Romano Fogli
FW   Angelo Sormani
FW   Néstor Combin
FW   Pierino Prati   37'
Substitutes:
DF   Luigi Maldera   54'
MF   Giorgio Rognoni   37'
Manager:
  Nereo Rocco

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Adams, Tony. "Rewind to 1969: Estudiantes Leave Their Mark". ESPN. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b La página más negra del fútbol argentino on El Gráfico, 1969

External links edit

  • Match details and lineups at RSSSF.com
  • Match reports at UEFA.com