This Day in History: 2023-06-02

Nr. 468

PELÉ’S LONG DISTANCE SHOT (1970)

Few football moments are chronicled if the player doesn’t hit the back of the net, but, although he scored one of Brazil’s goals against Czechoslovakia in their 4-1 opening match of the 1970 World Cup, it was a spectacular near miss by Pelé that grabbed the headlines. Fired up by Czech manager Joseph Marko’s pre-match comments that Pelé was a «spent force», the ‘Black Pearl’ then attempted an audacious goal. Seeing Czech goalkeeper Ivo Viktor off his line, Pelé tried a 50-yard lob from inside the Brazilian half. The shot beat Viktor, but, with the crowd gasping, went narrowly wide.

Pelé scores the second goal against Czechoslovakia, beating goalkeeper Ivo Viktor with a deft finish in the second half.