On this day 2 May 1962 (Exactly 58 years ago today) SL Benfica twice came from behind before two second-half strikes from Eusébio gave them a stunning win over Real Madrid in an eight-goal thriller to retain the European Champion Clubs’ Cup.
Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam
Attendance: 61,257
Referee: Leo Horn (Netherlands)
Benfica 5 : 3 Real Madrid
Águas Goal 25 Puskas 18,23,38
Cavém Goal 33
Coluna Goal 50
Ferenc Puskás took his tally in finals in this competition to seven in just two appearances, but each time the lead was pegged back as José Águas, Domiciano Cavém and Mário Coluna all hit the target
With 18 minutes of the second half completed, the brilliant Eusébio picked himself up to edge the holders ahead from the penalty spot, before completing the scoring with a rasping drive five minutes later. For the first time in six finals, Madrid were beaten.
The young Mozambique-born striker was one of only two new faces in the side from the one that defeated Madrid’s great rivals FC Barcelona 3-2 in the previous year’s final, when Águas scored an important equaliser soon after Benfica conceded.
The captain was again on target in Amsterdam, scoring immediately after Puskás had followed his 17th-minute opener with a fierce shot from outside the box to establish a two-goal lead for the Blancos on 25 minutes.
Cavém levelled the scores on 34 minutes, but the veteran Hungarian Puskás edged Madrid ahead again just four minutes later when he completed his second hat-trick in two finals.
The Spanish champions managed to hold that lead for almost 13 minutes before Coluna – who was also on target in the 1961 final – once again restored parity. By this time, much of the momentum was with Benfica, who appeared much fitter than their opponents.
Madrid were spearheaded by two 35-year-olds, Puskás and Alfredo Di Stéfano, and following a first half reminiscent of their unbeatable form in the first five editions of the competition, they began to lag after the interval.
Benfica, meanwhile, were lead by two 20-year-old strikers – Coluna and Eusébio – and with Pedro Casado limping heavily at right-back for Madrid, the pair began to dominate.
Eusébio made it 4-3 from the spot on 63 minutes and five minutes later, the youngster ensured the Portuguese side retained the trophy with a sublime long-range strike.
It was to be the last time this great Madrid side was seen in European competition and although they returned the following year after securing the Spanish title, they had lost a number of old faces.
Benfica: Costa Pereia, Mario Joao, Germano, Angelo Martin’s, Dominiciano Cavem, Fernando Cruz, Mario Coluna, Jose Agusto, Eusebio, Antonio Simoes, Jose Aguas (C)
Manager: Bela Guttman
Madrid: Jose Araquistain, Pedro Casado, Jose Santamaria, Vicente Miera, Felo, Pachin, Justo Tejada, Luis del Sol, Ferenc Puskas, Frencisco Gento (C), Alfredo Di Stefano
Manager: Miguel Munoz
Elsewhere;
On this day 2 May 1993 (Exactly 27 years ago today) Manchester United were confirmed as Champions of the inaugural Premier League season, finishing 10 points ahead of second- placed Aston Villa. They repeated the feat the following season, improving their overall points tally from 84 to 92.
On this day 2 May 2016 (Exactly 4 years ago today) Leicester City won the English Premier League title after starting the season at 5,000-1 odds in one of the greatest sporting stories of all time.
Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea confirmed a stunning achievement for Claudio Ranieri’s side.
It was a stunning achievement for City, who were bottom with seven games to go the previous season.
On this day 2 May 2012 (Exactly 8 years ago today) Lionel Messi broke a 39-year record for the most goals in a single European season, scoring for the 68th time to eclipse former Bayern Munich striker Gerd Mueller.
The Barcelona forward set the mark with his third goal in the 4-1 victory over Malaga at the Nou Camp, the strike completing his ninth hat-trick of the season and surpassing the 67-goal mark Mueller set for Bayern during the 1972-73 season.
On this day 2 May 2015 (Exactly 5 years ago today) Floyd Mayweather emerged victorious from the most lucrative fight in history, beating Manny Pacquiao via a wide unanimous decision in Las Vegas.
American Mayweather, 38, delivered a defensive masterclass against his Philippine rival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, making the necessary adjustments after only a few rounds before disappearing out of sight.
Mayweather, who added the WBO welterweight title to the WBC and WBA titles he already owned, was awarded the fight 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112 by the three judges.
With his victory, Mayweather also cemented his status as the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of his generation.
Tickets for the bout – billed as ‘The Fight of the Century’ – changed hands for as much as $350,000 and American fans were charged almost $100 to watch on television, with millions more watching across the world.
Rival broadcasters Showtime and HBO joined forces for the first time since Lennox Lewis fought Mike Tyson in 2002 to show the fight, with Jimmy Lennon Jr and Michael Buffer sharing ring announcer duties.
A-listers in the 16,507 crowd included actors Clint Eastwood and Robert De Niro, singers Sting and Prince, and future US president Donald Trump.
By: George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah
