1973: Independiente resist Juve challenge
Wednesday 28 November 1973
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Ricardo 'Bocha' Bochini scored the winner for Independiente (©Getty Images)
CA Independiente 1-0 Juventus
Juventus accepted the challenge to represent Europe in the European/South American Cup in 1973 after European Champion Clubs' Cup winners AFC Ajax pulled out of the competition for the second time in three years but, after three final defeats, CA Independiente finally got their hands on the trophy.
Ajax withdraw
Ajax had defeated Juve in the European Cup final in Belgrade in May, but declined the chance to defend the world crown. The Amsterdam side had also turned down the chance to play in 1971 but had won the competition in 1972 with an impressive 4-1 aggregate victory against Independiente, who had also lost in the 1964 and 1965 finals, both times to FC Internazionale Milano.
Bocha winner
Juventus did not fare so well against the Argentinian side in a one-off final staged at Rome's Stadio Olimpico on 28 November. A crowd of 35,000 was on hand to cheer on the Italian champions, but Independiente ultimately silenced the Juve tifosi with a 1-0 victory. Ricardo 'Bocha' Bochini got the only goal of the game five minutes before half-time as Independiente became the third Argentinian team to secure the title after Racing Club Buenos Aires in 1967 and Club Estudiantes de la Plata a year later.
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