1970 European Cup Winners' Cup final

The 1970 European Cup Winners' Cup Final was a football match between Manchester City of England and Górnik Zabrze of Poland on 29 April 1970 at Praterstadion in Vienna, Austria. It was the final match of the 1969–70 European Cup Winners' Cup and the tenth European Cup Winners' Cup final. Both sides made their first appearance in a European final. Manchester City won the match 2–1 thanks to goals by Neil Young and Francis Lee. The result was City's lone European triumph for more than 50 years, until their victory in the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League.[1][2]

1970 European Cup Winners' Cup final
Match programme cover
Event1969–70 European Cup Winners' Cup
Manchester City Górnik Zabrze
England Poland
2 1
Date29 April 1970
VenuePraterstadion, Vienna
RefereePaul Schiller (Austria)
Attendance7,968

The game was not televised live in the United Kingdom due to a clash with the 1970 FA Cup final replay.[3]

Route to the final
Main article: 1969–70 European Cup Winners' Cup
England Manchester City Poland Górnik Zabrze
Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Replay
Spain Athletic Bilbao 6–3 3–3 (A) 3–0 (H) First round Greece Olympiacos 7–2 2–2 (A) 5–0 (H)
Belgium Lierse 8–0 3–0 (A) 5–0 (H) Second round Scotland Rangers 6–2 3–1 (H) 3–1 (A)
Portugal Académica 1–0 0–0 (A) 1–0 (aet) (H) Quarter-finals Bulgaria Levski-Spartak 4–4 (a) 2–3 (A) 2–1 (H)
Germany Schalke 04 5–2 0–1 (A) 5–1 (H) Semi-finals Italy Roma 3–3 (c) 1–1 (A) 2–2 (aet) (H) 1–1 (aet)

Manchester City and Górnik Zabrze qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup by winning their respective national cups in the 1968–69 season. Manchester City defeated Leicester City in the 1969 FA Cup final, while Górnik Zabrze defeated Legia Warsaw 2–0 in the 1969 Polish Cup final. It was Manchester City's second European campaign; their maiden entry into European competition, an appearance in the 1968–69 European Cup, saw the club exit in the opening round.

Manchester City played the away leg first in every round. Their first tie was against Spanish club Athletic Bilbao, who were themselves managed by an Englishman, Ronnie Allen.[4] In the first leg, City recovered from a two-goal deficit to secure a 3–3 draw.[4] The home leg was a routine 3–0 win. Post-match reports alleged that a scuffle had taken place at half-time between Mike Doyle and José Ramón Betzuen. The referee spoke to both managers, but did not take any further action.[5]

The 1969–70 cup run was Górnik's seventh European campaign. The club had participated in the European Cup six times in the previous decade. It was their first appearance in the Cup Winners' Cup. The club had qualified for the competition on one previous occasion, but withdrew without playing a match.

In the semi-final, Górnik faced Roma. After the second leg, the aggregate score was level at 3–3, so a playoff match was held on neutral ground in Strasbourg. When this also finished level, a coin toss determined the winner. A disc with red and green sides was used. Górnik's captain Stanisław Oślizło's selection of green won.[6]

Match

Summary

Manchester City were without winger Mike Summerbee with a leg injury that had troubled him since the League Cup final the previous month.[7] George Heslop came into the team as a result, though Summerbee was fit enough to be named as a substitute.[8] Heslop was given the task of man-marking Włodzimierz Lubański, who The Guardian identified as "an outstanding individual... ...whom Malcolm Allison considers to be in the same class as Eusébio."[9]

Manchester City started strongly, particularly Francis Lee; The Guardian correspondent wrote "Lee, indefatigable and nigh irresistible continually embarrassed the Górnik defence in the early stages".[10] Lee had the first chance of the match, a close range shot which was saved by Kostka.[10] Manchester City took the lead in the 12th minute. Lee cut in from the left wing, escaping a tackle from Alfred Olek, and struck a fierce shot.[11] Goalkeeper Hubert Kostka parried the ball, only for it to land at the feet of Neil Young for a simple finish.[12] Shortly after City defender Mike Doyle sustained an ankle injury after colliding with Stefan Florenski.[12] Manchester City played on with ten men for a period as Doyle received treatment from trainer Dave Ewing, but the defender was unable to continue. Substitute Ian Bowyer replaced him.[13] The change prompted an alteration in formation, in which Colin Bell switched to a deeper position.[10] Shortly before half-time, Young won the ball after loose play from Florenski, which put him clear on goal.[11] As Young moved into the penalty area Kostka rushed out of his goal and upended him, leaving the referee no option but to give a penalty. Lee struck the spot-kick with power into the centre of the goal. Kostka's legs made contact with the ball, but the force of the shot carried it into the net to make it 2–0.[12][14] Górnik got a goal back midway through the second half, but there were no more goals and the match finished 2–1.

Details
Manchester City England2–1Poland Górnik Zabrze
Young 12'
Lee 43' (pen.)		 Report Oślizło 68'
Attendance: 7,968
Referee: Paul Schiller (Austria)
Manchester City
Górnik Zabrze
GK1England Joe Corrigan
RB2England Tony Book (c)
CB5England Tommy Booth
CB7England George Heslop
LB3England Glyn Pardoe
CM4England Mike Doyledownward-facing red arrow 23'
CM6England Alan Oakes
CM11England Tony Towers
RW8England Colin Bell
CF9England Francis Lee
LW10England Neil Young
Substitutes:
MF12England Ian Bowyerupward-facing green arrow 23'
Manager:
England Joe Mercer
GK1Poland Hubert Kostka
SW3Poland Stanisław Oślizło (c)
RB4Poland Jerzy Gorgoń
CB5Poland Stefan Florenskidownward-facing red arrow 85'
CB8Poland Alfred Olek
LB2Poland Henryk Latocha
CM7Poland Erwin Wilczekdownward-facing red arrow 75'
CM6Poland Zygfryd Szołtysik
RW9Poland Jan Banaś
LW11Poland Władysław Szaryński
CF10Poland Włodzimierz Lubański
Substitutes:
MF13Poland Alojzy Dejaupward-facing green arrow 85'
CM16Poland Hubert Skowronekupward-facing green arrow 75'
Manager:
Poland Michał Matyas

Assistant referees:
Austria Franz Wöhrer (Austria)
Austria Erich Linemayr (Austria)

Post-match

Winning manager Joe Mercer said "the heavy rain in the second half ruined the game" and that he was "quite happy with the performance of our team, although the technical level was rather low in the second half". Górnik manager Michał Matyas blamed his side's poor start, saying the "first goal came too early for us and we never recovered from this shock."[15]

See also

References
  1. Bevan, Chris (29 April 2020). "The strange tale of how Man City conquered Europe – 50 years on". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  2. "Man City win Champions League: Rodri goal secures victory against Inter and completes treble". BBC Sport. 10 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  3. Clayton, David. "The European final City fans couldn't watch..." Manchester City FC. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  4. Gardner, The Manchester City Football Book No. 2, p. 14.
  5. Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 112
  6. "Kto 40 lat temu zgasił światło w meczu Górnika z Romą?". Sport.pl. April 21, 2010.
  7. James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, p. 130.
  8. Penney, Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years, p. 134
  9. Paul Fitzpatrick (29 April 1970). "Summerbee unfit for duty". The Guardian.
  10. Paul Fitzpatrick (30 April 1970). "Lee Inspired by Vienna". The Guardian.
  11. Gardner, The Manchester City Football Book No. 2, p. 20.
  12. Ward, The Manchester City Story, p. 66.
  13. James, Manchester City – The Complete Record, p. 133.
  14. James, The Big Book of City, p. 41
  15. Paul Fitzpatrick (30 April 1970). "Mercer "happy"". The Guardian.

Bibliography
  • Gardner, Peter (1970). The Manchester City Football Book No. 2. London: Stanley Paul. ISBN 0-09-103280-6.
  • James, Gary (2006). Manchester City - The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon. ISBN 1-85983-512-0.
  • James, Gary (2009). The Big Book of City. Halifax: James Ward. ISBN 978-0-9558127-2-9.
  • Penney, Ian (2008). Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years. Derby: Breedon. ISBN 978-1-85983-608-8.
  • Ward, Andrew (1984). The Manchester City Story. Derby: Breedon. ISBN 0-907969-05-4.
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