This Day in History: 2023-03-23
Nr. 431
…BUT EUSEBIO SCORES FOUR (1966)
However, Portugal’s brilliant and inspirational Eusebio kept his head and launched a one-man rescue act, which saw him exploiting North Korea’s defensive frailties. With half an hour gone the Portuguese young gun had had enough. Within two minutes he’d scored one, then a second with a penalty just before half-time. In the second half he took his hat-trick in the 56th minute and a final fourth from the penalty spot. Jose Augusta completed Portugal’s great escape with a fifth goal 12 minutes before the whistle.
Despite losing their commanding lead the ‘Red Mosquitoes’ left the ground as heroic underdogs and returned to Pyongyang to delirious celebrations and a special commendation from President Kim Il-sung. According to conspiracy theorists the players then ‘disappeared’ because their collapse against Portugal was blamed on a prematch night of partying-an act deemed ‘bourgeois’ and ‘symbolic of corrupt western imperialism’. The government has denied that many of the squad spent 20 years in an internment camp.
Eusebio claws a goal back for Portugal. At 1-3 the stage was set for a stirring comeback.
