#OnThisDay 23rd September 1970: Triumph in the Anglo-Italian League Cup
At the time, Manchester City were one of the strongest sides around. The ‘Citizens’ had won the First Division in 1968, the FA Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1969, the League Cup in 1970 and two Charity Shields in 1968 & 1972. It was an era of greats in Manchester with United boasting Bobby Charlton and City’s side including several internationals including Joe Corrigan, Colin Bell, wonder-winger Francis Lee, Mike Summerbee and last-but-not-least Tony Book, the ‘Maine Man’ and iconic captain of the side.
But, having been boosted by a 1-0 success at home in the first leg (with a goal from Rizzo), it wasn’t beyond a determined Bologna to overcome the English side despite the unfavourable pre-match predictions. Mondino Fabbri knew very well that the Rossoblu were heading into a battle in the atmospheric surroundings of Maine Road, Manchester City’s proud and noisy fortress. Already deprived of Bulgarelli, the Rossoblu lost Adani and Vastola in the build-up through illness and a muscle injury. There was a chance of glory therefore for Vavassori and Pace who became nothing less than the heroes of this cup triumph. The goalkeeper saved the unsaveable and erected a metaphorical wall in front of the waves of sky-blue attack. The Pescara-born talent made the difference as he assisted both of the Rossoblu’s goals which proved enough to take the prestigious Anglo-Italian Cup back to the Stadio Comunale.
“It was an extraordinary effort,” said Fabbri to the pundits after the match to sporting applause from the entire stadium. “It’s a triumph which makes us and the whole of Italian football proud. The thing which makes me most happy is how my players never responded to provocations from the opposition and they weren’t caught up by the incessant home support.”
23rd September 1970, Final, second leg
Manchester, Maine Road
MANCHESTER CITY-BOLOGNA 2-2
MANCHESTER CITY: Corrigan, Book, Pardoe, Doyle, Helsop, Oakes, Hill, Bell, Lee, Towers, Young. Coach: Allison.
BOLOGNA: Vavassori, Prini, Ardizzon, Cresci, Janich, Gregori, Perani, Rizzo, Savoldi, Liguori, Pace. Coach: Fabbri.
REFEREE: Angonese (Mestre).
GOALSCORERS: 16′ Perani (B), 25′ Lee (M), 73′ Savoldi (B), 75′ Helsop (M).
