CELTIC 1 RACING CLUB BUENOS AIRES 0 October 18 1967
FOR NINETY MINUTES, Celtic ruled the world following a roughhouse encounter with the South American champions on a chilly Autumn evening on the south side of Glasgow.
It was the torrid confrontation – under the guise of the Intercontinental Cup – Wee Jimmy Johnstone referred to as “the night fitba’ went oot the windae”.
In front of an appalled 83,437 audience at Hampden, Jock Stein’s players were bludgeoned aside straight from the kick-off without protection from Spanish referee Juan Gardeazabal, who, astoundingly, didn’t issue a solitary booking.
THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM…Billy McNeill leads out Celtic at Hampden in October 1967.
The only goal arrived in the 69th minute when Billy McNeill leapt majestically to a right-wing corner-kick from John Hughes to leave keeper Augustin Cejas flummoxed as the ball arced high into the net.
Alas, Celtic’s meetings with Racing Club became a black chapter in the history of a great club. A 2-1 loss in Buenos Aires necessitated a third match play-off in Montevideo.
Mayhem overtook the infamous occasion and Celtic lost 1-0.
Before the Uruguayan capital had been selected for the third game, Bertie Auld was asked which venue he thought would be most suitable. The little chap from Maryhill answered: “Madison Square Garden seems ideal.”
*TOMORROW: Don’t miss CLASSIC CELTIC: Part Nine – only in your champion CQN.
