Great strikers who shone in Guayaquil

I am trying to pay tribute to the unforgettable times when the best teams in the world played in Guayaquil. I’m starting a tour from the years when the main stage was the Capwell stadium, from 1945, and then from 1959, when the Modelo Guayaquil stadium was inaugurated. How can we forget the 60s, when the most recognized and famous strikers in the world came.

Predecessors of Copa América 1993

“All these strikers, surrounded by a mythical aura that makes them unforgettable. Most of them consisted of five attackers whose names were constantly repeated among the fans. Some of them are best remembered for the emotions they caused, with which fans of results and winning no matter what would probably despise them today” (Martí Perarnau, former Spanish Olympian, journalist for newspapers, TV and radio; author of books such as Tactical evolution of football 1863-1945, God, keep your spirits upamong others).

The fall of several football playboys

In the 40s, the River Plate Machine (1942-1946) was known. A team was formed that shone in attack, composed of five stars who went down in history because they raised football to the category of art. They were Muñoz, Moreno, Pedernera, Labruna and Loustau. Argentina forgot, in the 30s and 40s, the British WM system, which was originally brought to Chile by the Hungarian Ferenc Platko, but it was Renato Cesarini who introduced the 3-2-5 that offered such good offensive results.

Pancho Segura went to New York in 1940

In our country, international football news was followed thanks to magazines coming from the south of the continent, such as Chart, goals and Stadium, from Chile. Our newspaper also informed us on its pages that in Europe, after the Second World War, football met a beautiful Hungarian team that imposed a new rhythmic style in the 50s.

Hungarian coaches were masters of tactics, pioneers of 4-2-4. Bela Guttmann, one of his mentors, arrived in Brazil in 1957 and popularized the system he invented with fellow Hungarians Gusztava Sebes and Marton Bukovi. The Brazilians gave it their own special style thanks to their unique technique. That’s how they won their first World Championship, in Sweden in 1958.

Enrique Cantos, bicycle owner

Guayaquil was filled with excitement when it learned that it would host the 1947 South American Championship at the end of that year. Although Brazil did not come, the porteños watched the constellation at the Capwell Stadium which looked spectacular. Argentina’s attack became a sensation with the famous Boyé, Méndez, Pontoni, Moreno and Loustau, until 4 December 1947 when Alfredo Di Stéfano came on after 30 minutes due to an injury to Pontoni. Since that night Blonde Arrow it became unforgettable for the people of Guayaquil.

Garrincha, fantastica dead 40 years ago

Colombia created the El Dorado era in 1949, when the Millonarios signed none other than Adolfo Pedernera, Di Stéfan and Néstor Rossi. That club with those figures played against Barcelona in Guayaquil on August 31, 1949 in a charity match to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake in Ambat. In a spectacular match, Barcelona won 3-2 against what is considered the best team in the world. The striker of the millionaires consisted of Castillo, Pedernera, Di Stéfano, forward Cabillón and Mosquera.

In 1959, Santos de Pelé arrived in Guayaquil for the first time. On January 11, he faced Emelec in Capwell, in front of 20,000 people. Pelé, barely 18 years old, was the commander of the attack. He scored two goals, and Coutinho scored the other.

In the same month of 1959, Palmeiras appeared in Capwell, with a fantastic striker consisting of Neto, Américo, Antoninho and the brilliant Julinho (Julio Botelho), one of the best strikers in the history of Brazil. Palmeiras defeated Barcelona 4-0.

In those years, Real Madrid was considered the best team in the world. On August 12, 1961, he played in Guayaquil, and 60,000 people filled the Model facilities very early. The Meringues faced Barcelona and lost 3-1. We still remember the virtuosity of that strong striker of Real Madrid, which consisted of Canario, Del Sol, Di Stéfano, Puskas and Gento.

On January 8, 1961, Peñarol played the first match of an international tournament in which Independiente de Avellaneda and Emelec participated at the Modelo stadium. The undeniable attraction was Alberto Spencer in Peñarol who appeared in the Copa Libertadores with a formidable attack: Cubilla, Ledesma, Sasia, Spencer and Joya. We saw Peñarol beat Everest 5-0 in the 1963 Libertadores in Guayaquil.

On January 7, 1962, Santos and Barcelona met in a friendly match at the Modelo Stadium. Almost 40,000 people attended the match with great applause. Santos won 6-2 thanks to the spectacular play of its forwards: Dorval, Mengalvio, Coutinho, Pelé and Pepe. And if there was something missing to see in Guayaquil, in Modelo, it was the mighty Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro. The team that shone beating Barcelona 5-0 came on January 16, 1963. He brought this luxury forward: Garrincha, Quarentinha, Amarildo and Zagallo. Botafogo demonstrated violently and it was unforgettable to see the celebration of the fantastic Garrincha, the best right winger in the history of football.

Another striker who held a concert in Guayaquil was Alianza Lima in 1965, consisting of Baylón, Zegarra, Pedro Parakeet León and the magisterial Teófilo Child Cubillas.

In that decade, big teams like Milan in 1966 passed through our city; Dynamo from Moscow which led to black spider Lev Yashin and that on December 23, 1967 he drew 0:0 with Barcelona. It was called the top event of that football season. Czech, German, Yugoslav, Austrian and Argentine teams arrived. How can we not remember the mighty Benfica who put on a real show on August 20, 1967 thanks to one of the most recognized strikers of the 1966 World Cup in England: José Augusto, Torres, Eusebio and Simoes. They gave a wonderful display. Eusebio received a standing ovation in Model that evening when he showed Ángel Macías, the goalkeeper from the Canary Islands, where he should have taken the free kick from 45 meters. Benfica won 3-2.

In recent decades, tactics, training systems, physical preparation, strategy, and practicality in football have changed, but what is certain is that the elegance of Hungarian or Brazilian interpreters I play nice it is timeless. Today’s great strikers are news because of the individual version of their shooters. Collective offensive art is dying out.

As a final reflection I can add that just as I confirm what I saw and see, there were sporting moments of the past that I could not observe. But when I read about these feats, or they tell me about them, I undoubtedly believe the stories and chronicles of those who enjoyed them. I am like many soldiers of the old guard. I admit that I am nostalgic because it is the essence of memory and above all because we all have the right to it. Yesterday, today or the other day. (OR)