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| The First Game in Europe |
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Glentoran V Real Zaragoza
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Real Zaragoza provided the first opposition
to Glentoran in Europe.The won 2-0 at the Oval in the
first European tie at the Oval on26th Sept 1962. The spanish
goals were gift wrapped, coming five minutes before the
end of each half: right back Roy Borne turnedthe ball
past keeper Roy Rea into the net for the first, the secondresulted
from a weak back pass by Billy McCullough, Duca pouncing
to send it into the net. Indeed Zaragoza adapted particularly
well
to the wet conditions.
Glentoran made a six-hour charter flight for the 10 October
return leg at La Romareda Stadium, a trip which Matt Doherty
almost missed. Lessthan 24hrs before departure he was
still without a passport which had been delayed in the
post, worried Glentoran officials succeeded in
arranging an emergency search and the missing document
was found.
Skilfully, systematically confidently and with almost
contemptuous easeZaragoza sent Glentoran out of the tournament
before 25,000 with a 6-2 (aggregate 8-2) win. At the end
of it all Glentoran stood asideand generously joined in
the applause as Zaragoza acknowleged the
crowd's rapturous reception. Zaragoza with seven changes
from Belfast were a well-drilled machine and even when
reduced to 10- left half Tucho pulled a muscle in the
second half they were a different class.
They mounted every aatack with swiftness, switch with
fluency from defence and Glentoran were caught in the
wave of aggression and chased shadows.
The Glens had taken the lead in the 10th minute, Billy
Neill lobbing the ball forward to Billy Hume who swept
it inside for Matt Doherty to volley it into the roof
of the net.
Glentoran's first tie in Europe had ended as a lesson
given by one of the top Spanish teams but the Glens
had learned their lesson and it wouldn't always be this
way!
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