Tournament replayed to determine winners

The 1970-71 football campaign was one of the busiest in the history of our game, what with the Nations Cup qualifier against England and the visit of Real Madrid in connection with the Cup Winners' Cup that brings back fond memories to those who, like me, have seen the wrong side of 60.

As usual, the season was kicked off with the Independence Cup. This event, the equivalent of the present day Euro Cup tournament, was contested by the teams playing in Europe.

In the first match, Hibs beat Floriana 1-0, a result which seemed to inspire the Greens who went all out for victory in their next match against Sliema. The Blues seemed unprepared for this encounter and threw in the towel after the first goal, leaving the Greens to do all the running. Floriana won 2-0.

This result favoured Hibs who now only needed a draw against Sliema to win the first competition of the season. Hibs, however, played badly and lost 2-0.

There was nothing left to do but to replay the competition. The cycle was restarted with Hibs and Floriana locked in a 1-1 draw and Sliema drawing 0-0 against Floriana.

Judging by the performances of the teams in the previous matches, it looked as if Sliema would find it hard to retain the honour. Hibs, however, never play to expectations.

The Blues started well and for the first 10 minutes Hibs were on the receiving end. Then, the Paolites scored and Sliema gave up completely.

Playing with great ease, Hibs could easily have opened a comfortable lead. Joe Cini, just acquired from Sliema, beat his former colleagues and then Eddie Theobald completed the scoring - 3-0.

When Johnnie Privitera limped out injured, Cini was given the skipper's armband. It was therefore, the ageing Malta skipper who received the cup from the Noble Salvinu Testaferrata Moroni Viani at the end of the game.

That season, Hibs played against Real Madrid in Europe. It was a dream come true for the local football lovers who now had the chance to see the famous Spanish team play in Malta. Hibs, of course, were delighted with the draw. Moneywise this was a gift sent from heaven.

The sixties and seventies were great years for Maltese football, if only for the number of big clubs which played in Malta. It was still possible in those days to draw a big name in the first round of the UEFA competitions and Hibs used to draw them out like a magician.

Hibs lost 5-0 in Spain but at the Stadium they played a magnificent game. They matched and, at times, even surpassed Real Madrid in skills and went so far as to pen the Spaniards in their area in the closing minutes of the game.

At the end, Real were happy to return home with a 0-0 draw. They disappointed the bumper 22,000 crowd but not, of course, the Hibs supporters.

If Hibs made a positive impression, the same could not be said of Sliema and Floriana. The Blues, playing away in Copenhagen, suffered the worst defeat in a European competition up to that time when they were beaten 7-0 by Akademisk Boldklub.

Floriana fared slightly better. They lost 5-0 away at Sporting Lisbon. These results left little scope for the return matches in Malta.

Floriana were expected to do better at home than they did in Lisbon. The Portuguese, however, were one of the best sides to play on our shores. They were complete masters in everything that matters in football... speed, positioning, passing and shooting.

Floriana tried hard but were outclassed. They held on until half-time with Sporting leading 1-0. A soft goal broke Floriana's resistance and Sporting took command. Two other goals followed and the Portuguese went home deserving their 9-0 aggregate.

Good fortune plays a big hand in football as even the best teams suffer from ill-luck at times.

Sliema, playing the return game in Malta, did enough to beat Akademisk handsomely, yet they lost 2-3. The Blues committed some unbelievable mistakes in front of goal and to make matters worse they conceded a goal right on the stroke of time.