It was termed as the "greatest match" of football as the winner of that match would gain the permanent ownership of Jules Rimet Trophy, the erstwhile World Cup, and the match lived upto expectations.
Sunday is the golden jubilee of that great occasion as Brazil beat Italy 4-1 on June 21, 1970 at the Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, comprising more than 100,000 fans, with the sublime showcase of football that many regard as the perfect one.
Brazil, the champion of 1958 and 1962, used to play the "Jogo Bonita" style of football that emphasizes on the beauty and aggression over anything else, while Italians were known for their rigid discipline and defensive prowess with the style called catenaccio.
Brazil were endowed with a bunch of extraordinary players and the harmony of Pele, Tostao, Jairzinho, Gerson and others under the captaincy of Carlos Alberto Perreira made a symphony of perfect football.
Pele got off the mark in the 18th minute with a perfect header off a Alberto cross to set the tone.
“We jumped together, but when I landed, I could see Pele was still floating in the air,” Burgnich , the Italian defender who was marking the talisman, was quoted as saying in the Eduardo Galeano’s book "Soccer Under Shadow And Sun".
Italy’s Roberto Boninsegna equalized courtesy a defensive blunder in the 37th minute as the first half finished 1-1 but Gerson helped retake the lead in the 66th minute before a brilliant combination of Pele’s assist and Jairzinho’s finish extended it to 3-1.
But the greatest moment of the game, arguably one of the finest in the history of football came in the 86th minute when as many as nine Brazil players were involved in one of the most aesthetic, spellbinding team goal.
After intercepting an Italian player in their own half, Tostao, Brito and Clodoaldo interpassed between hemselves before midfielder Clodoaldo beat four Italian players and provided a neat pass to Rivelino.
The tall Brazilian hit a perfect through pass down the wing to Jairzinho, who crossed to the centre box to Pele.
The magician, like a virtuoso, held the ball a bit like playing a rest in the note and provided a pass with elegance in the open space for Alberto, who arrived like a speedy train and smashed home with an angular drive that had the speed of a bullet.
The goal was so sublime that Golam Sarwar Tipu, former Bangladesh footballer still recalls it vividly.
“I still remember that goal. It was a perfect show. The memory of that stunning goal still gives me pleasure. I saw it in video time and again,” said Tipu to Dhaka Tribune.
British press commented about the game, “Such beautiful soccer ought to be outlawed.”
But football fans around the world still get thrilled watching the video of that goal and perhaps every time a great goal is scored, they compare it with that ultimate show of the beautiful game.
