First European Cup Final Appearance (1973)

Lore & Background

Independiente were the 1973 Copa Libertadores winners, defeating Colo-Colo in the finals with a goal in extra time. It was their second successive win, and they longed for an Intercontinental Cup win after losing the previous final against Ajax. Ajax refused to play in the 1973 edition, alleging they did not want to suffer the 'rough game' of the Argentine team again. Juventus took Ajax's place. The Italian club refused to come to Buenos Aires, making it a condition to play a unique match in Rome. Independiente executives accepted, scheduling the match for November 28, 1973. José Pastoriza, captain and leader of the Copa Libertadores winning team, did not play because he was transferred to AS Monaco shortly before the final.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the Feijenoord pitch, turning the grass into a treacherous mirror of grey skies. In the Juventus dressing room, the silence was heavier than the humidity. Bettega tightened his boots, staring at the black and white stripes that felt suddenly light against the weight of expectation. Outside, the roar of the Dutch crowd was a physical wall. When they stepped out, the ball moved with a hypnotic rhythm that defied their training; one touch, two touches, pass, move. The Italian defense held its breath, trying to anchor themselves in a storm of movement. Then came the moment: Cruyff gliding past, a blur of white and orange, striking the ball into the net. The stadium erupted, but for the men in black and white, it was a quiet lesson written in water and mud: Europe would not be conquered by defense alone.

Reader's Guide

The match for the most part was dominated by Juventus, with several opportunities to take the lead including two shots on the cross, a penalty kick drawn by Cuccureddu which ended up over the bar, and a shot in the last minutes blocked by Argentine goalkeeper Santoro. Ten minutes from the end, a succession of wall-passes between Raimondo and Bertoni, then Bertoni and Bochini towards the penalty box, ended in the goal of the victory for Independiente.

Did You Know?

• It was the first Intercontinental Cup won by Independiente and the third won by an Argentine club after Racing and Estudiantes de La Plata in 1967 and 1968.
• The victory was the breakthrough of 19-year-old Ricardo Bochini as a rising star; he would finish his career always playing for Independiente.
• Daniel Bertoni, a key player in the match, later won the 1978 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, scoring the third goal against the Netherlands in the final.
• The match was broadcast by Canal 7 in Argentina, but the video is believed to have been erased or stolen during the military dictatorship from 1976. A 3-minute copy was aired in 2009.