The 28th April marks the 50th anniversary of West Ham United’s European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final second leg against Real Zaragoza of Spain. With the Londoners 2-1 up from the first leg, 29,400 supporters attended La Romareda with the vast majority expecting to see goals from Los Magnificos (The Magnificent). This was the name given to Zaragoza’s fearsome attacking quintet which consisted of Canario (who had notched the Spanish side’s solo strike at Upton Park in the first leg), Marcelino, Eleuterio Santos, Juan Manuel Villa and Carlos Lapetra.
It was Spanish international Lapetra, who represented his country in England at the World Cup the following year, who opened the scoring after 22 minutes to level the tie on aggregate. Away goals did not count in 1965 so, with the score at 2-2 on aggregate, the game would have been decided by a play-off match between the two clubs. This was on the cards until the 54th minute when Johnny Sissons struck the Hammers’ equaliser on the night, a goal which put Ron Greenwood’s side 3-2 ahead on aggregate and proved enough to secure a place in the final at Wembley.
The other semi-final second leg saw 1860 Munich defeat Torino 3-1. With the tie deadlocked on aggregate at 3-3, a play-off was required in Zurich on 5th May 1965 to determine the Hammers’ opponents. 1860 Munich won the play-off 2-0.
Real Zaragoza: Yarza, Cortizo, Luis Violeta, Santamaria, Reija, Eduardo Enderiz, Canario, Eleuterio Santos, Juan Manuel Villa, Marcelino, Carlos Lapetra.
West Ham United: Jim Standen, Joe Kirkup, Ken Brown, Bobby Moore, Jack Burkett, Alan Sealey, Martin Peters, Ronnie Boyce, Johnny Sissons, Geoff Hurst, Brian Dear.
Saturday Sees ’65 Squad Saluted
Back in March, in the first of these articles marking the 50th anniversary of our European Cup Winners’ Cup triumph, I called upon the club to ensure this significant achievement was celebrated in this milestone anniversary year. I am delighted to report that the club have invited the surviving members of the 1965 squad – and representatives for those who are sadly no longer with us – to this Saturday’s match against Burnley. Hopefully they will be paraded on the pitch either before kick-off or at half-time to receive what should be a rapturous reception. Make sure you take your places to join in the applause!
The club have also announced that a “special 100-page Programme will be published for the occasion, while the original 16-page programme issued for the 2-0 final victory over TSV 1860 Munich at Wembley will also be reprinted for supporters”.
Rangers Reflections
Elsewhere, congratulations to Reece Burke on his first Premier League start on Saturday at Loftus Road and for playing a key role in securing a welcome clean sheet. A point was better than I realistically expected considering our recent form and QPR’s desperate need for the points. It was, however, far from a great performance and we had the outstanding Adrian to thank again for keeping the score at 0-0 with his penalty save from Charlie Austin and stunning late tip-over of Matt Phillips’ angled drive.
I did feel the game was there for the taking, though, had the correct alterations been made. QPR were woefully short of pace at the back with the likes of Clint Hill and Richard Dunne – there was always the feeling that an expertly-executed through-ball would really play to Enner Valencia’s strengths and the QPR rearguard’s weakness. The introduction of Carlton Cole played instead to the strengths of the likes of Hill and Dunne. With the Hoops’ increasing desperation, more gaps were there to be exploited and a final pass on the counter-attack from a player with the creative nous of a Nene or Morgan Amalfitano could have nicked all three points for the visitors. The fact that neither was introduced was particularly disappointing.
A Tale Of Two ’Keepers
Finally, it was great to hear a positive reception for our former goalkeeper Rob Green who responded with warm applause and a crossed hammers salute to the travelling support at the final whistle as we enthusiastically chanted his name. Green was one of West Ham United’s great goalkeepers who had a happy knack of saving spot-kicks, including three in a row in 2007/08 from Reading’s Kevin Doyle, Portsmouth’s Benjani and Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe. In a symbolic changing of the guard, the ‘Greeno’ chants faded as our former ‘keeper disappeared down the tunnel while Adrian, the Hammers’ Hispanic hero, headed for his hordes of admirers in the Upper Tier of Loftus Road’s School End with his name now echoing around the compact stand. It was great to hear the respect and appreciation for players past and present. The Spanish stopper has now equalled Green’s penalty hat-trick and is well on his way to enjoying the sort of adulation that Green always received from the Claret and Blue Army.