Lets get back in my time machine, to search for amazing anecdotes of Argentinean football. This time we are going to land in the year 1972.
The games were between two bitter rivals from the Provincies of La Pampa and Chubut, in the south central part of Argentina.
I say games, because it was the two legged final for a place on the Campeonato Nacional.
The teams were All Boys of Santa Rosa (La Pampa) and Independiente of Trelew (Province of Chubut)
First game was played in La Pampa and the home side was very superior, but could only manage a narrow 1-0 win.
The talk of the town of Trelew prior to the return game, was how much Independiente needed to improve if they were going to overcome a very tough All boys team
To make matters worse their main man and club talisman Francisco Fandinho was injured and a serious doubt for the game.
The day of the second leg arrives and the stadium is full. The reception for the teams by the fans was incredible. Depending on from what side you looked at it, it was one of either great support or a very intimidating experience.
The first half was even and the teams exchanged some nice attacking football creating options at both ends.
Finally in the second half the home side breaks the deadlock and scored via Oscar Bersan.
The end of the game arrives and they played overtime without any changes to the score line.
The final of the tournament after two gruelling legs, went to penalties.
The first two penalties for each team, ended up in goals.
Then Independiente scores the third, and the local fans explode once again.
All boys’ third penalty was saved by the home keeper, who clearly was way off his goal line.
The visiting team players started protesting to the referee, before long the bench start protesting, pushing, shoving and then the pitch gets a mini invasion from the travelling fans who want explanations as well. Once the fans arrived on the field of play, the local police got involved as well.
The players, thinking that their team could get disqualified, got distracted calming the fans and the police down.
Amid all this chaos the referee continued with the penalty shoot out.
Police, managers, assistants and fans were all still running about on the pitch.
When the fifth and penalty for the home side came along, chaos was still ensuing.
The only thing that was clear is that if Independiente scored that penalty, they would be the winners and play with the big guns the following season.
The local hero, Fandinho, who played through the pain barrier, took his position and scored the winner.
The referee whistled the end of the game, both sets of players shook hands with each other. Police and fans stopped fighting and went home.
The celebrations in Trelew lasted till the very early hours of the morning.
The result is confirmed and can’t be changed.
During the confusing acts and fights going on that day, neither the visitors nor the three referees, realised that the local hero “Cachito” Fandinho, had been substituted during the second half of the game because of his injury, and was not legally entitled to take that penalty.
The games were between two bitter rivals from the Provincies of La Pampa and Chubut, in the south central part of Argentina.
I say games, because it was the two legged final for a place on the Campeonato Nacional.
The teams were All Boys of Santa Rosa (La Pampa) and Independiente of Trelew (Province of Chubut)
First game was played in La Pampa and the home side was very superior, but could only manage a narrow 1-0 win.
The talk of the town of Trelew prior to the return game, was how much Independiente needed to improve if they were going to overcome a very tough All boys team
To make matters worse their main man and club talisman Francisco Fandinho was injured and a serious doubt for the game.
The day of the second leg arrives and the stadium is full. The reception for the teams by the fans was incredible. Depending on from what side you looked at it, it was one of either great support or a very intimidating experience.
The first half was even and the teams exchanged some nice attacking football creating options at both ends.
Finally in the second half the home side breaks the deadlock and scored via Oscar Bersan.
The end of the game arrives and they played overtime without any changes to the score line.
The final of the tournament after two gruelling legs, went to penalties.
The first two penalties for each team, ended up in goals.
Then Independiente scores the third, and the local fans explode once again.
All boys’ third penalty was saved by the home keeper, who clearly was way off his goal line.
The visiting team players started protesting to the referee, before long the bench start protesting, pushing, shoving and then the pitch gets a mini invasion from the travelling fans who want explanations as well. Once the fans arrived on the field of play, the local police got involved as well.
The players, thinking that their team could get disqualified, got distracted calming the fans and the police down.
Amid all this chaos the referee continued with the penalty shoot out.
Police, managers, assistants and fans were all still running about on the pitch.
When the fifth and penalty for the home side came along, chaos was still ensuing.
The only thing that was clear is that if Independiente scored that penalty, they would be the winners and play with the big guns the following season.
The local hero, Fandinho, who played through the pain barrier, took his position and scored the winner.
The referee whistled the end of the game, both sets of players shook hands with each other. Police and fans stopped fighting and went home.
The celebrations in Trelew lasted till the very early hours of the morning.
The result is confirmed and can’t be changed.
During the confusing acts and fights going on that day, neither the visitors nor the three referees, realised that the local hero “Cachito” Fandinho, had been substituted during the second half of the game because of his injury, and was not legally entitled to take that penalty.