Saturday, April 4, 2009

And in a bit symbolic way, the last final was won by away goals, experimentally introduced rule. It was the first time a final to be decided by that – Leeds United (Leeds) and Juventus (Turin) were unable to beat each other in the two-legged final – 1-1 in Leeds and 2-2 in Turin. Leeds, scoring more away goals, won the Cup for second time.
Final 1st Leg, Stadio Comunale, Turin, 28 May 1971, att 65000

Juventus (1) 2 Leeds United (0) 2¹
27' 1-0 J: Bettega
48' 1-1 LU: Madeley
55' 2-1 J: Capello
77' 2-2 LU: Bates
¹ Original game on 26 May abandoned at 0-0 after 51 minutes due to unplayable pitch

Juventus: Piloni; Spinosi, Salvadore, Marchetti, Furino, Morini, Haller, Capello, Causio, Anastasi (Novellini), Bettega
Leeds United: Sprake; Reaney, Cooper, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter, Lorimer, Clarke, Jones(Bates), Giles, Madeley

Final 2nd Leg, Elland Road, Leeds, 3 June 1971, att 42483

Leeds United (1) 1 Juventus (1) 1
12' 1-0 LU: Clarke
20' 1-1 J: Anastasi
aggregate 3-3, Leeds won on away goals

Leeds United: Sprake, Reaney, Cooper, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter, Lorimer, Clarke, Jones, Giles, Madeley (Bates)
Juventus: Tancredi; Spinosi, Salvadore, Marchetti, Furino, Morini, Haller, Capello, Causio, Anastasi, Bettega
Actually, the drama was bigger – there were three games – the first one had to be abandoned because of unplayable pitch and replayed. Perhaps 1971 was the most dramatic year of international club football – the Cup Winners Cup had to replayed and the Fairs Cup needed three matches to produce a winner. And what finalists! Juventus, the ‘poor boys’ among the Italian grands, finally reaching European final, after struggling in the shadows of Milan and Inter during the 1960s. And not capable of win European trophy yet. Leeds United, promising to become big, big, big – the result of the ambitious plan Don Revie, who reshaped the club in 1968, including change of kit. Leeds was to play entirely in white, like great Real Madrid – Revie wanted Leeds to be mighty like the Spanish club and the plan was working: it was their second European trophy already. Alas, it also happened to be the last…

Claiming the future in white – step down Real! First the Fairs Cup in front of Billy, everything else must follow.
Back, left to right: Rod Belfitt, Norman Hunter, Gary Sprake, David Harvey, Joe Jordan, Terry Yorath.
Middle: John Faulkner, Chris Galvin, Mick Jones, Paul Madeley, Allan Clarke, Jack Charlton.
Front: Paul Reaney, Mick Bates, Peter Lorimer, Johnny Giles, Billy Bremner, Nigel Davey, Terry Cooper.
There will be more about this club later – the story is not finished, but take a look at this team one more time. 16 national players. Was Don Revie prescient?