Wednesday, August 2, 2017

EUSEBIO the BLACK PANTHER

Eusebio Da Silva Ferreira was born on 25 January 1942 in Portugal. Nickname is “A Pantera Negra” he was a sensational athlete so strong and so fast. When you talk about your savior you talk about Benfica and when you talk about Benfica you talk about your savior he earned the biggest name in the club’s history. In may 1961 Benfica beat Barcelona 3-2 to become the first club apart from Real Madrid to  win the European cup even then the Portuguese club were looking to the future having just signed an unknown 19 years old  Eusebio. When Eusebio arrived Benfica were Portuguese Champions and also European Champions. A month later a European Champions were invited to play an exhibition match against the World Club Champions Santos the Brazilian side with PELE and their ranks brought the Portuguese back to earth with 20 minutes to go and 5-0 down it seemed like a good time to give the youngster his chance Eusebio took it with book hands scoring a sensational second half hat-trick. Benfica went down 6-3 but in just 20 minutes Eusebio it shown the world his star quality. The shockwaves run through the Benfica team they were European champions but everyone want of that lineup felt Eusebio impact his arrival meant that things would change. Eusebio was right to believe in himself his first league start came at the stadium of light against Atletico and for those who hadn’t seen the phenomenon  put three goals pass Santos Eusebio showed the Lisbon public just what kind of player they had in Benfica.
Lisbon was a world away from the one that he’d known growing up in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique but Eusebio surprisingly settled in Benfica his childhood friend Hilario had been one of the first Mozambique to make a trip to Portugal when he signed for the Lisbon club sporting. In fact the history of Portuguese football was very nearly different Hilario came close to bringing Eusebio from the Mozambican capital to Sporting Lisbon. Sporting lost was Benfica’s gain and Eusebio reputation quickly spread in his first season his goals fired the club to a second successive European cup final their opponents this time were  Real Madrid. Madrid started brightly however Puskas giving them a two-goals lead Benfica hit back to level the game at 2-2 then Real Madrid retook the lead it was time for Eusebio to make his mark on his first European cup final. Eusebio sealed the 5-3 win with a flourish as Benfica became the first team to beat the Spainiards in a European final. Eusebio however was more thrilled to receive Di Stefano shirt after the game. He may not have sought fame but Eusebio quickly established himself as the brightest star in both Portuguese and European football in many ways it was the first modern footballer combining a devastating blend of power and acceleration. Naturally Eusebio goals brought trophies for Benfica they want consecutive league titles between 63-65 and it was also in that year Eusebio received the Ballon D’or confirming his status as Europe top player. Eusebio goals had bulldoze Benfica to a third consecutive European final in 1963 but the Lisbon club were not about to create density of Real Madrid proportions their opponents were AC MILAN and despite Eusebio opening goal Benfica’s attacking football met Italian defence MILAN won 2-1. In 1965 Benfica reached there fourth final in five years but this time they were beaten by INTER MILAN 1-0.
Nevertheless Portuguese football was on the up Sporting had won the European cup Winners cup in 1964 and the players from both Lisbon teams made the bulk of Portugal squad for the 1966 world cup in England and Eusebio they had the man to lead them to Glory. It was a tough group for Portugal after convincing wins against Hungary and Bulgaria they had to face the world Champions Brazil. But they way in which Portugal brushed them aside displayed a ruthlessness that surprised many observers two goals from Eusebio sent the champions crashing out. Next up for Portugal the quarterfinals a game against the tournament surprise package North Korea Eusebio though was at the peak of his powers. They were 3-2 down to Korea in first half but in second half the game was totally change and they won by 4-3 by the brilliance of Esuebio. He scored two goals. Eusebio and its inspired form Portugal looked unstoppable but they were up against the hosts England in the semi final. Eusebio and his teammates were relaxed and confident of another win. That semi final proved to be quite controversial Portugal’s base Liverpool was the original venue for their semi final against the hosts but the English FA arranged for the fixture to be moved to Wembley. It was the decision that left the Portuguese feeling cheated. Stiles uncompromising marking drastically reduced the treat of Eusebio  by stopping Eusebio England had stopped Portugal. Two Bobby Charlton goals gave England a 2-0 lead with the English dominant on their home ground tired Portuguese legs just couldn’t cope. A late Eusebio penalty was too little too late for Portugal the dream was over.

The fact remained though that Eusebio had now carried his country as well as his club to new heights he finished the tournament with nine goals to his name and put Portugal on the world football map. Back with Benfica the goals continued to flow he received the European golden boot after an incredible 42 goals in 1968 it was becoming very obvious just how important he was to his club’s chances of success. In early 70s Eusebio’s hunger four goals never diminished another European golden boot was taste to that but having remained loyal to Benfica for 15 years he decided to grasp one final payday in north American Soccer League. Goals and trophies were never far away from Eusebio throughout his glittering career but his body could no longer keep up a long-term knee injury forced him to retire in 1978. Yet it’s for his football that Eusebio will live long in the memory. For Benfica he scored 638 goals in 614 games winning eleven Portuguese championships five Portuguese cups and one European cup in just 14 years. Portugal’s greatest ever player also scored 41 times in 64 appearances for his country. EUSEBIO DA SIVA FERREIRA there will never be another like him.                  FOR MORE VISIT: football-galaxy01.blogspot.com

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