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Pelé At The Cottage

Discussion in 'Fulham' started by Cottager58, May 30, 2013.

  1. Cottager58

    Cottager58 Well-Known Member

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    The Club have posted a wonderful piece of nostalgia. (Although I admit this is really a bit of indulgence 'cos I was fortunate enough to get Pele sign a Fulham shirt that night)


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    "The biggest crowd of the season - 21,464 – turned out on 12th March 1973 to see Brazilian superstar Pelé and his Santos team play a friendly against Second Division Fulham at Craven Cottage.

    It was the 31-year-old’s first game in the English capital, as he had spent all of Brazil’s matches at the 1966 World Cup at Everton’s Goodison Park, and the likes of Carlos Alberto and Edú were alongside him for Santos’ ‘world tour’.

    Making strides onto the Craven Cottage turf, the world’s best player still had “the speed and wriggle of a young adder” according to The Daily Express’ Steve Curry, while The Daily Mirror’s Jack Steggles wrote: “There was an excited buzz every time the ball reached Pelé.”

    But wing-wizard Edu proved to be Santos’outstanding player on the night. He hit the bar with a first-half free-kick and Curry described his skills as “staggeringly brilliant” on the left wing before Fulham were handed the lead late in the first half.

    An appalling blunder by Santos goalkeeper Claudio gave the Whites the opening goal on 35 minutes as he got hold of Alan Pinkey’s cross, but let the ball slip through his hands and into the net.

    Santos, playing at almost walking pace, were soon level though as an explosive burst carried Pelé yards clear in a race for a through ball and goalkeeper Peter Mellor brought him down. Pelé picked himself up to send Mellor the wrong way with the spot-kick and tie the game at 1-1.

    The Whites would hit back seven minutes from time to secure the winner, however, as Steve Earle was bodychecked by Vincente outside the box. The forward got himself in a great position from the resulting free-kick, which he sent home from close range to inflict only Santos’ second defeat in 12 matches of their tour and ensure that Pelé would never forget his trip to SW6."




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