Benfica set to beat Zurich

Press, 9 December 1982, Page 40

Benfica set to beat Zurich

NZPA-Reuter London The mere mention of the name Benfica is usually enough to bring a smile to the face of every soccer fan above the age of 30. It was back in 1961 that the legendary Portuguese first gained prominence when they ended Real Madrid's five-year reign as European champions, beating Barcelona, 3-2, in an epic final. Even better was to come 12 months laur when Benfica and Real combined to produce the classic final in front of 65,000 spell-bound fans in Amsterdam. The great Ferenc Puskas hit a first-half hat-trick for Real but the Spaniard’s day was over. Benfica came from behind and two memorable goals from Eusebio kept the trophy in Portugal. The present Benfica team does not have a Eusebio—or a Cluna, Germano of Simoes ’ for that matter—but their 22year wait for a third European trophy could be over. Today it should book its

place in the quarter-finals of the U.E.F.A. Cup at the expense of Zurich, having gained a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Switzerland two weeks ago. Italy, into its fifth depressing month as world champion; will be looking to Roma to salvage its prestige against West Germany's Cologne in the Olympic stadium. The Romans trail, 0-1, from the first leg and their vociferous support, who have paid a record 910 million lire ($650,000 dollars) for tickets, will expect full value for money. But Cologne, out to avenge West Germany’s World Cup final defeat, may just deprive the Italians of their 11 million lire ($7850 dollar) bonus. The six' remaining ties should see Czechoslovakia’s Bohemians, Anderlecht of Belgium, West Germany’s Kaiserslautern, Bordeaux of France, Valencia of Spain, and Scotland's Dundee United qualify for the quar-ter-final draw.