Hello everybody, I am Alex Gendler Smith and I am here to take you through the 1963 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Atlético Madrid at the Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam. Spurs had a convincing run up to the final, with the most recent being a 5-2 aggregate win over OFK Beograd. Atlético overcame a 2-1 first leg deficit against Nürnberg and winning the second leg 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu (the home of rivals Real Madrid) to book their place in the final of the Cup Winners’ Cup. Atlético are looking to make this back to back wins of the competition, after drawing the final 1-1 against Fiorentina, followed by a comfortable 3-0 win in the replay.
The referee for tonights cup final is the Dutchman Andries van Leeuwen.
Its expected that the attendance will be just under 50,000.
Lineups
Here’s Tottenham’s XI:
And the Atlético XI:
The men in charge of the sides are the Englishmen Bill Nicholson in charge of Spurs and the Spaniard Sabino Barinaga in the Atlético hot-seat.
KICK OFF
1′ Here we go, the next 90 minutes decides the winner of the Cup Winners Cup
2′ a crunching tackle from Jesús Glaría leaves Bobby Smith on the ground and gifts Spurs a free kick in a dangerous area.
3′ early on here Atlético have given away a couple of free kicks in dangerous areas.
4′ Adelardo Rodríguez fires a shot from 30 yards out however it drags wide of the goal, the first shot of the game.
6′ a poor touch from Mendonça has some of the croud laughing, what a cruel sport
10′ not too much else to report on at the minute, with neither side really threatening the opposition goalkeepers.
15′ POST! Jimmy Greaves hits the post from a header. The corner from John White was perfectly played towards the backrest where Greaves had a free header, but hits the post from a tight angle.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Atlético Madrid
16′ Who else? Greaves finds the back of the net to give Spurs the lead in the final. A delightful through ball from Bobby Smith down the right hand side finds Cliff Jones on a surging run, his cross falls at Greaves feet who places a first time volley into the bottom left hand corner. 1-0 to Spurs.
19′ Greaves finds Smith on the edge of the box, who with a left footed strike forces a save from Edgardo Madinabeytia low down, Spurs get a corner.
22′ Mendonça goes down after a blow to the face, the club doctors on the pitch and after some treatment he carries on.
27′ Atlético really struggling here to get a foot into this cup final. Tottenham are dominating the ball and whenever Atlético get possession Spurs have it back within ten seconds. A strong display from the Tottenham side so far.
29′ Enrique Collar with a strike from range with his left foot sails over the bar and into the stands, Atlético cannot create a good chance at the minute, still 1-0.
32′ A stray pass from Adelardo Rodríguez goes out for a goal kick, and that describes Atlético’s first half an hour in a nutshell.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Atlético Madrid
35′ John White has scored in the final! It all came from a cross from Tottenham’s number 10 Jimmy Greaves, which was missed by Atlético’s keeper Madinabeytia, the ball then fell to Terry Dyson who played a clever pass back to the eventual soccer White and with couple of touches sets himself up to smash the ball into the top right corner, leaving Madinabeytia with no chance. Can Atlético climb the mountain and get back into the game?
41′ Atlético have definitely stepped it up since going two goals behind, but they are still really struggling to create a good chance.
42′ first real chance for Atletico. A corner from Adelardo Rodríguez is headed wide by Ramiro. He will be disappointed with that header.
Half Time: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Atlético Madrid
A first half that lacked quality for the majority of the game sees Tottenham lead Atlético by two goals to nil. The only two moments of quality were for the goals from Greaves and White. As I am describing that first half we have a marching band giving the fans some half time entertainment, hopefully lifting the spirits of the Atletico fans who have had absolutely nothing to shout about. Tottenham fans will just be hoping for more of the same in the second half.
46′ the second half is underway.
PENALTY ATLÉTICO
47′ Oh what a save, but not by the keeper! Atlético pile players into the box and a shot on the turn by Mendonça is maiking its way into the top corner, but a diving save by the left back Ron Henry tips it over for a corner if it was the goalkeepers save, but in this case the left back gives away a penalty. What a chance to half the deficit just two minutes into the second half.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Atlético Madrid
47′ Collar steps up to take the penalty and calmly places the left footed penalty into the top right hand corner. Atlético back in the game now.
49′ Henry gives away a dangerous free kick on the edge of the box, this is a good chance for Atletico to equalise…
49′ Chuzo strikes the free kick well and goal bound, but its deflected out for a corner kick to Atletico.
55′ Chuzo with a chance to equalise! The ball bobbles into his path and a right footed strike across goal just drags wide. That may be a chance that Atlético regret not taking.
62′ Tottenham without a chance so far this second half and cannot really keep possession. Similar to Atlético’s first half. Wow, football really might be a game of two halves…
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Atlético Madrid
67′ forget a game of two halves, this is TOTTENHAM’S game! A moment to forget for Madinabeytia as Dyson’s cross should be standard catching procedure for the Argentinian, but the ball slips through his hands and goes in. Thats given Tottenham that two goal lead back and surely now there’s no way back for Atlético in this game after Madinabeytia’s blunder!
72′ really end to end stuff now. Atlético are sending more and more men forward leaving themselves vulnerable at the back to this world class Tottenham frontline. Can only see more goals in this one.
75′ “Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur” can be heard from the stands. The fans are pushing Tottenham forward here to try and get more goals and finish the game in style.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Atlético Madrid
80′ Oh that Tottenham crowd has pushed the players on here, and they have a fourth! Dyson down the left whips in a wicked ball that falls perfectly to Greaves’ left boot and he places past the keeper. Tottenham will win the European Cup Winners Cup and in style!
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 Atlético Madrid
85′ They’re running away with it now! Dyson is showing off on the pitch with a run from the half way line to just outside the Atlético box before firing away a pile-driver into the top left corner. He has been absolutely unplayable tonight, a truly magnificent display.
Full Time: Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 Atlético Madrid. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR WIN THE 1963 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS CUP!
90′ The full time whistle goes and the Tottenham players celebrate a sensational victory in the final. first half goals from Greaves and White gave Tottenham a deserved lead going into the break. An early second half penalty by Collar gave Atlético hope that they could pull off a great comeback but them hopes were shattered when a goalkeeper error gave Dyson his first of the game and Tottenham a two goal lead again. Then in the last 10 minutes the Tottenham side really showed they’re class with Greaves and Dyson doubling their goal tallies for the night. Atlético never really showed they were on Tottenham’s level tonight, and made the final look like an early knockout tie. Nevertheless, Tottenham deserve all the credit for just being a class above on the night, and with two superstars like Dyson and Greaves every team across the planet should be fearing Tottenham Hotspur.
