few minutes were missing for 20 of that Wednesday, in La Plata paralyzed and tense. The cry was born in the throats of Muñoz, Fioravanti, and many others from Manchester and propagated for hundreds of thousands of portable radios, shook.
the country also. "Student Gooollll !...¡ Argentine Gooolll !...". Veron's header, perfect outcome for the precise center of Madero, had silenced the 65,000 Englishmen was overwhelming hostility to the team courageous, shrewd and determined. Another 500, scattered in the Old Trafford intimidating and under a rain did nothing to carry emotion to the table, fought to contain the scream before the menacing look of your neighbors platform. Students!, Echoed in those hearts, knowing that their colors begin to write the most glorious page.
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* * * In those days, the newspapers talked about the Chancellor's claim Nicanor Costa Mendez to the General Assembly of the United Nations for national sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. That averaged Apollo VII mission that prepared the subsequent trip to the moon, overcome the problems of an annoying cold of the three astronauts. That Pope Paul VI deplored "the disobedience that was installed in the Catholic Church and the world." That the prime ministers of the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia signed an agreement legitimizing the stay in Prague Warsaw Pact troops and that in Mexico remained below the XVI Olympic Games.
Oblivious to the sound of that era so unique, in Manchester waiting for a football game that some branded him a war. In fact, the second battle of a series that had started three weeks ago in Buenos Aires: Estudiantes 1-Manchester United 0, football contest with less strong leg, heat, wrestling, muscle, austerely defined with a goal from Marcos Conigliaro.
Postponed in the field of choices, then peeked Argentine football international at the table with the achievements of their teams: Independiente and Racing in America, the Academy in the World. Responsible for ratifying the emerging lineage was a student, but with a very different identity and that of their environment. It was raining in Manchester on Wednesday night October 16, 1968. And it was cold.
bathed the crowd in an intimidating fervor had already done their images in the days before British TV issued with police dogs, the assault vehicles and barbed wire in Buenos Aires.
did not need to install more aggressive atmosphere, largely off-at least in the minds of the players Pincharratas-with a brilliant move by Osvaldo Zubeldia: send the team to reconnoiter a hours before the game.
This undesirable for the public appearance brought forth an insult that went through the story: "Animals!" No matter. The plan is indispensable, bear the first 20 minutes, expected a storm of the English offensive. Madero or Aguirre Suárez on Dennis Law. Pachamé, Kidd stuck. Bilardo, with Crerand. Togneri, on top of Bobby Charlton.
funny thing: when football Creole had sought to establish supremacy over Europe had done with the formula in touch. This time the roles were reversed: the supposed delicacy was on the side of Manchester, the brand and concentration, the heritage of students. But that initial assumption has a fast break, crucial, happy. Seven minutes on the line escapes Veron left and lock it with foul Dunne. Madero is responsible for executing the free kick, with the board in the head.
The Witch recalls today: "It was a play ready, of which we practiced forever and that allowed us to do a lot of goals. Madero threw the cross from the left, my classmates and I made curtain camaraderie came from ago. He came out perfect, and I crossed the ball to the head keeper's far post. " Gol ... Gol! Student Goal! An umbrella quarrelsome and angry punishing head José María Muñoz, and the irreverence of the cry. Is 1 to 0, but ... actually, 2 to 0. The team is strong on the confidence of the advantage and also on the anxiety that gnaws at the British.
That moment was the call sign for the heroes enter the scene. One of them, Alberto Poletti. Hardy speaks: "The atmosphere had become a bit hostile, it is true, because Manchester was an important team did not want to lose. The court had no Olympic fence and we were not used to that. But the people there respect to police, so the order is not lost. " In what was missing from the first time, students handled the circumstances with an enviable aplomb. But the second was something else ... There had already finished the game. Just think of an attack.
to be side by side on the bottom and hold, reject, hold and return again to reject ... Are 45 minutes longer in the world. Old Trafford is a boiling cauldron. The "Animals!" returns again and again. Students are not immutable: Madero, sunset, reaches all. Pachamé rejects them all. Aguirre Suárez all the header. And Poletti ...
English Last throes. A skirmish between Medina and George Best's happening groping and shoving. Zecevic The Yugoslav referee expels them both, and mark free kick to Manchester.
In the implementation, platense defense falters and filtered Morgan, who finally beat Poletti. But time is short, very little ... And nothing. El Flaco runs like lightning towards the middle. Bilardo jump, all jump.
Students, world champion. For the first time a foreign team is established in the Islands. "Triumph of defensive football, but also the effort, discipline and responsibility. Victoria of faith that knows no boundaries when it is backed with real quality," he writes in his chronicle Enrique González Schio, the envoy of the NATION. Victory achieved, happiness pinned La Plata.
The celebrations spilled over the road 7 in a party that lacked only the presence of the heroes of Manchester. The apotheosis came three days later. First, the passage of the champions of the Casa Rosada. Then the triumphant return home. With the place already secured in history.
With English look
After the conquest of Students, British newspapers reflected the night of Old Trafford with a tone that mixed the charge and recognition.
Here, some of them:
The Sun: "The Argentine Veron, nicknamed" La Bruja "by his classmates, charmed the defense of Manchester, who was paralyzed when he said the goal Student. The English never found the rhythm and did not have the ideas necessary to overwhelm the defense of Argentina, who is one of the most efficient in the world. "Argentines as a team were working and intelligent, especially in the rear , waterproof like a submarine. United was the loser for more than one reason. Your players must be bold enough to ask this morning, are they animals or us? Or perhaps both? ".
Daily Mail (Brian James):" After another night of malevolence in the sport, the Argentines had the audacity to parade the trophy before the crowd howled. Are welcome to receive it, welcome to the possession of an award made in a game that honest people will rush to forget. But if I admire the ethics of an encounter, I can not pay tribute to the skill and professionalism of students. It was the best team of the two. What a shame that such talent has been tarnished in this way! ".
Daily Sketch (Tony Carter): "Students deserve all the public outrage that he expressed, but also must be given high praise for the defensive operation almost infallible staged."
A Special memory: Mangano's epic Students in 1968 had a value creator that its protagonists, even today, as fundamental: the club's president, Mariano Mangano. Carlos Pachamé remembers: "All fans should remember him as a major figure of that achievement, along with Osvaldo (Zubeldía) and the executive committee.
Mangano was a gentleman who left his business and personal activities to devote himself to the club. Advance as a president, who made investments that were made today like crazy and enjoy. "
On October 16, 1968, Students finalized its greatest achievement: the one designed by Osvaldo Zubeldia team drew 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford, and won the Intercontinental Cup for the second time for our country. 
