Diego Maradona match career reports (1976-1997)

Discussion in 'The Beautiful Game' started by Vegan10, May 1, 2020.

  1. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Metropolitan Championship 1977

    Round 4

    18/03/1977 Racing 2-1 Argentinos Juniors

    Stadium: Racing

    Maradona faced off against one of the traditional sides, the historical Racing with Alfio Basile as the coach of the home team. But Maradona would only play 45 minutes, replaced apparently after an injury or perhaps he was saving himself for an upcoming debut for the youth NT.

    Nothing is said about his game and I have no other texts other than from El Gráfico, who rated him with a poor grade of 5. The only thing that is certain is that the game was “poor” and Argentinos played poorly.

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  2. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Friendly

    23/03/1977 Argentina Youth NT 3-2 liga de Chascomús

    This match produced Maradona’s debut for the youth NT. The team was preparing for the qualifiers to the first ever FIFA Youth World Cup held in Túnez. This was the period in which Maradona would start to have NT duties that overlapped with his club priorities, causing him to miss significant time for Argentinos Juniors.

    The youth NT faced off against a team that was composed of various players of the Chascomús league. Maradona would play only the first half.

    According to the link below, this was the situation:

    “Directed by Rogelio Poncini -Menotti's collaborator- and under the advice of Ernesto Ducchini, EL 10 played that night in March at Deportivo, against a combined team that represented the Chascomunense League, but which was made up of a team from the Nocturne - recently finished and with Casa Halty as champion - and directed by Domingo Lejona.

    In addition to Maradona, the youth came with names that would later have an important career in AFA clubs, such as Vasco Olarticochea, Patón Bauza, Víctor Rogelio Ramos, Hugo Alves, Luna himself, Sergio Gurrrieri, among others.

    On the opposite sidewalk, Mingo appealed not only to the best local players of the moment -Uruguayo Castiglioni, Miguel Acuña, Papelito Andersen, Carlos Cáfaro, Hugo González, Carlos and Julio Zaldúa, Rubén Echayre, Horacio Moja, Rubén Balcaza, Angelito González, Pulga Plaché and Milonga Inchausti-, but included some who were playing outside of Chascomús such as Marcelo Armendáriz (Gymnastics of La Plata), Chango Tristán (San Lorenzo de Mar del Plata), and even foreign values that had integrated teams of the night such as the goalkeeper Mudo Casse (Gimnasia de La Plata) or a pair of footballers from Cambaceres (goalkeeper Jiménez and midfielder Pato Jesús).

    http://elsuplente.com/2013/nota.php?ts=nota&nid=21237

    In regards to this match, the newspaper El Argentino, highlighted in its note of March 24, 1977:

    “While the creators were there, the team showed an acceptable level.”

    “A large number of the public served as a mark last night for the presentation of the AFA youth team in front of a local team armed by Lejona based on the most outstanding values of the last night.

    The comparison presented dissimilar characteristics in the two periods. The first, in which the national team showed all its figures, took place in an absolutely mobile tone, where Luna, Delgado, Gurrieri and Maradona demonstrated part of their effectiveness, ability and innate conditions as gifted footballers.

    Chacaritense Delgado was the one who scored the first goal for the nationals when they had played 19 minutes, tying the 28 Angel González in a play where the extreme Argentine defense showed its shortcomings.

    Gurrieri, before a brilliant play by Maradona and a ball that Luna lowered from the head, was left alone against Jiménez, putting the team in advantage again, but immediately Tristan established the tie.

    The Velezano Luna after a confused situation put the three to two when the first half died and football ended here.

    Large variations in the two sets for the second 45 minutes (including Maradona) weakened both formations, translating the stage into a simple game of struggles where the local midfielders were deprived, but with almost no risk for the goalkeepers.”
     
  3. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Metropolitan Championship 1977

    Round 5

    27/03/1977 Argentinos Juniors 3-1 Newell’s Old Boys

    Stadium: La Paternal, Argentinos Juniors

    In one of Maradona’s last games for his club before he would be absent for some time due to NT duties, Argentinos Juniors faced off against one of the stronger teams. Newell’s had Gallego, one of the top NT defensive midfielders and his job would be to stop Maradona. In the first half it worked, according to La Nación, “Gallego shut down” Diego in the first 45 minutes, but Maradona “grew” in the second half and set up goals for his teammates.

    El Gráfico noted how could Newell’s, a superior team, fall into the abyss against lowly Argentinos. The visiting side fell into errors and traps and committed too many fouls. In that “disorder Maradona’s skill set up goals for Alvarez and Lopez, but then the game once again died”.

    El Gráfico rated Maradona man of the match with a correct grade of a 6 but the team overall did not play well.

    Goles regarded the arrival after the half of Lopez as the key to Maradona’s ascension to “functioning” and the team drastically changed. Diego received a good grade of a 7.

    Summary: 2 assists

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  4. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Friendly

    08/04/1977 Club Cipolleti 1-2 Argentina Youth NT

    Stadium: La Visera de Cemento, Rio Negro

    693E3F00-A038-4432-B220-AC58F70CD59F.jpeg

    For those interested in trivia about the famous “Maradoneano” runs and solo goals; well this was one of the first goals that Diego scored that drew similarities to future conquests. The goal here was said to have been very similar to his goal vs Belgium at the 1986 World Cup.

    The story about this game is summarized in the link below:

    “April 8, 1977 is not just another date in the history of Argentine soccer. That day, Diego Armando Maradona scored his first goal wearing the representative colors of our country. It was to give the 2-1 victory to the selected Sub 20 in a friendly match against Cipolletti at La Visera de Cemento.

    Cipollettti's present is not the best, since in recent years they had become accustomed to fighting whether it is the permanence or promotion in the Federal A. However, the whole of Río Negro has a reason to smile every April 8. 43 years ago, the Patagonian team received the youth team on their field, which overcame the match and won by 2 to 1. That afternoon, who played and converted the Albinegro cast was none other than Diego Maradona, which would be his debut in the networks wearing the Albiceleste shirt.

    That afternoon in the Valley, the national representative team, tactically led by Rogelio Poncini, formed with Oscar Alberto Vijande, Hugo Alves, Ricardo Fussani (Julio Olarticoechea), Edgardo Bauza, Romero, Roberto Gáspari (Miguel Candedo), González (López), Sergio Luna, Eduardo Delgado, and Rubén Pérez.

    The game would start to the surprise of everyone at La Visera with a goal from Cipolleti. Albinegro opened the account through a free kick by Rodolfo Juárez after 25 minutes of play. However, in the agony of the match, the hierarchy of the national team was too much for the Foreman. Candedo tied 40 minutes into the match and two minutes later came the goal of the Pibe de Oro born in Villa Fiorito, the first of the 48 goals he scored defending the AFA shield throughout his career.

    The goal of the talented prodigy of the Argentinos Juniors hotbed was described by Juan Enrique Strak, head of the Albinegro cast on that day that would become unforgettable for our football. "It was very similar to the goal he scored for Belgium in Mexico '86. Maradona started from the middle of the field, dribbled 4 players, including myself, and finished sticking to the post in the arc that gives his back to the Kleppe passage."

    "The friendly was given thanks to Vicente Cayetano Rodríguez, our coach, because he was very close to César Menotti, who directed the senior team. What's more, he even became an auxiliary member of the team that played the World Cup in Argentina the following year" , explained the former foreman central midfielder. Thanks to Rodríguez's affinity with El Flaco, Cipo had the luxury of also being able to face the New York Cosmos, and those selected from Hungary and Poland.

    "None of us knew Diego, he took us completely by surprise. With that goal he made for us, we realized that he was a different one. He was destined to make history," he commented to whom the people of the Foreman know him as the Russian. It had been the second friendly that the Sub 20 played in preparation of the South American qualifiers of Venezuela, in which they could not qualify for the World Cup that year. However, the future world star of just 16 years - who had debuted during that week against Atlético Chascomús - would have a rematch since in 1979 he would coronate himself in the world cup appointment of that category in Japan.

    "You will imagine that it was not common for the National Team to come to play in the interior of our country, much less here in Cipo. That day in the Valley, which had a capacity for 12,000 people at the most, it was completely overwhelmed," Strak said of the framework. of the public of that historic April 8, 1977. Those who were present that day at the Cement Visor can boast of having seen Pelusa score his first goal with the Argentina jacket just before Cipolletti, a fact that is undoubtedly a reason for pride for all fans of the Patagonian Foreman.

    Summary: 1 goal

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.noticiasnet.com.ar/nota/
     
  5. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Sorry, I had missed one friendly of Argentinos Juniors in March of 1977 before Diego took off for the National Team.

    Friendly

    20/03/1977 Estudiantes (R.C) 0-0 Argentinos Juniors

    Antonio Rattin was coaching this team of Estudiantes from the Rio Cuarto province. It was one of those regional teams. It would be the only time Diego played in that region against that team.

    The game received little to no coverage and only history has recorded it after years because of the repercussions that resonated due to Maradona’s fame.

    Estudiantes: Catalano, Walter Gómez, Ricardo Acevedo, Raúl Rodríguez y Bianchi; Humberto Mansilla (Ledesma), Washington Areco y Alberto Domingo Romero; Enrique Rufinetti (Jaluf), Norberto Madurga y Rubén Arias. Director Técnico: Antonio Ubaldo Rattín.
    Argentinos Juniors: Hugo Tocalli, Dante Roma, Cigagna, Miguel Roux Larrosa (Gette) y Humberto Minutti; Carlos Fren, Nelson Agresta del Cerro y Diego Maradona (Patti); Jorge Orlando López, Carlos Alberto Álvarez e Hilario Ramón Bravi. Director Técnico: Antonio D’Accorso.

    Taken from link below:
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    http://paginaceleste.blogspot.com/2010/10/el-diez-en-rio-cuarto.html?m=1

    https://altoquedeportes.com.ar/noticias/ver/19653
     
  6. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    And so Maradona’s first test at the international level at the age of 16.

    South American Youth World Cup Qualifiers 1977

    16/04/1977 Argentina Youth NT 1-1 Uruguay (Youth NT)

    Stadium: Misael Delgado Valencia, Venezuela

    Argentina debuted against the defending champs and each side was viewed as the favorites to go through.

    Scant coverage was given to this tournament with La Nación only mentioning the superiority of Uruguay in the first half and the better second half of Argentina that produced the eventual draw.

    2C818870-920A-4949-9D23-2F4D45149395.jpeg


    Many years later, Gerardo Caetanto, former Uruguayan player said this:

    "Maradona took revenge and danced us all"

    Gerardo Caetano, the least ‘famous’ of the champions.

    Gerardo Caetano was part of that Uruguayan squad that the South American of Venezuela achieved. Forward, striker with power and very good technique, an exquisite player, who had to fight his place with real cracks, and he did it. Today —from Lima— he remembers those days with Celeste on his chest: "I never got to be so trained and I never lived with such extraordinary footballers: 'Chicharra' Ramos, Ruben Paz and Hugo De León (who were substitutes), Diogo, Bica , Fernando Alvez, and many others. I remember that in the South American we played the knockout series in the city of Valencia, in the State of Carabobo. And we were with an Argentine team in which Diego Maradona, who was only 15 years old, was already shining and the tournament was under 18.


    We shared the concentration camp on the top of a hill. In the match of the series we tied 0 to 0 and Víctor Diogo completely canceled him out. Five months later I do not know who came up with the idea that the farewell before the World Cup was to be against Argentinos Juniors, one Sunday morning in the Centennial, and they beat us 6-0, with an incredible "revenge" by Maradona who “toyed with us all".

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ovaciondigital.com.uy/amp/futbol/maradona-vengo-bailo-todos.html
     
  7. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    South American Youth World Cup Qualifiers 1977

    18/04/1977 Argentina Youth NT 1-2 Paraguay (Youth NT)

    Stadium: Misael Delgado Valencia, Venezuela

    La Nación headlined: “Disappointing work from Argentina”

    The Argentinian newspaper stated that if vs Uruguay the team played discreetly, then now against Paraguay it was very disappointing.

    “What surprised more in the losers, who now have limited chances of qualifying (...) was not only their poor technical capacities, but their excessive violent game (...)”

    “Paraguay, the revelation of the tournament, showed a superior physical state than the Argentinians, which allowed them to control without trouble the slow and lack of ideas of the opposition’s attacks.”

    Now with this loss, destiny no longer would be in Argentina’s control. Peru would be the next hurdle.

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  8. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    South American Youth World Cup Qualifiers 1977

    21/04/1977 Argentina Youth NT 1-2 Peru (Youth NT)

    Stadium: Misael Delgado Valencia, Venezuela

    Argentina needed to win to have any chances at making it through to the next stage. The match would be a precursor to what would transpire in 1985 between Argentina-Peru with the dual of Maradona vs defender Reyna.

    This is the point of view from the Peruvian side of that match many years later.

    “The sky was darker than ever in Valencia. It had been a couple of hours since night had fallen and the almost 30 degrees in the Misael Delgado stadium seemed to suffocate the frustration on his breath. 151 kilometers west of Venezuela, a 16-year-old boy was running away with tears, embarrassed and angry because he had lost playing soccer. It was Maradona. On April 21, 1977, Peru defeated Argentina 2-1 in its third match for the South American Youth Championship and took away all options to qualify for the Túnez World Cup that same year. The Peruvian team eliminated the Argentina of Maradona. They say that that afternoon, the curly-haired boy knew that sadness was sadder when his team lost. Maradona ended up frustrated. Some say they saw him cry on the field, but I saw him in the Convent, where we were concentrating, the boy cried and cried, says Abel Lobatón (father), the right-hand man for that team. The coach Marcos Calderón had warned Poggi, if Maradona goes to the bathroom you follow him to the bathroom, Duglio nodded without knowing that in that match he was the Lucho Reyna of 1985 for Maradona. A nightmare. The task of marking Maradona was entrusted to us along with Poggi and Sato, says el huevo Adriazola and continues: I was the first wall, the one who moved it, then Sato followed who adjusted it the most and the one who threw him to the ground was Poggi who was the dirty one but without evil. You Poggy have to be ready to send kick him to the stands, Marcos had told him and Poggi obeyed, he added. We had already seen Maradona play the day before, we already knew who he was. We went to train at the stadium and he alone was putting seven goals in a team of fans, you could see that he was a great player, a crack, says Abel Lobatón. Since then, his manager called him Pelusa, all the clothes he wore were exclusive and he stole all the media attention, they did not give the others the ball, el huevo intervenes. In that South American, all the teams, with the exception of the host, were staying in a nun retreat, a kind of multitudinous convent where - coincidentally - the second level was shared by Peruvians and Argentines. The Canoness was called, recalls the Witch Bonelli. From the moment we arrived, we would see each other's faces, when we left the rooms to eat or have a soda, we would meet them in the hallway, that's why when the game day arrived we were good friends with everyone, except Maradona because he didn't get together much, he seemed very shy, very reserved, narrates Alfredo Honores, goalkeeper of that Peruvian team. We had tied Venezuela 1-1, Marcos Calderón was directing us, Lucho Zacarías was the physical trainer, we had a great team. There was Poggi, who was the one that mostly marked Maradona, the Reyna type. Illescas, Rey Muñoz and I remained on the bench, says the Mad Seminary. Argentina came with Maradona as a star figure, in Buenos Aires the front page every day was about him, in addition there were Patón Bauza and the Alves brothers. Marcos told everyone to put his little girl in, especially Poggy, Sato and Adriazola. The boy (Maradona) was so good that it was impressive the effort to mark him, we had already pressed him so much that he was frustrated, he couldn't do more than four touches. We made him cry, adds Bonelli. Honors remembers another anecdote: Until now I laugh, when I saw Maradona take the ball, I told my defense to jump, score, run, there, there ... but when I saw Diego making his typical threatening runs from the middle of the field to start dribbling everyone I was no longer directing my defense, just screaming hold on to stop that (asshole...) because he was a crazy son of a bitch that would beat a stack of defenders. There was a lot of mischief but football was played a lot. The Argentines were also tough and they got their kick, but without malice, the most rogues would pull the trick and lie to the mother, but still, he didn't say anything, Poggi threw him on the floor and Maradona stood quietly and kept playing, the Witch Bonelli says with nostalgic admiration. Chalaca was the most machetero (butcher) Postigo was a surrenderer and El Huevo had a brave left-handed man who shook, he continues. When the Brazilian referee, Oscar Scolfaro, ended the match at the Misael Delgado stadium, the stands were almost empty. The eleven of Peru were smiling for their first victory of the tournament while the albicelestes -among them Maradona- hurt in their very Argentinean ego were on the verge of anger. Ahead was his coach Rogelio Poncini. After the game Poncini was angry, he thought it would be a nice game, which is why when the game ended - already eliminated - he went to look for Marcos in the dressing rooms to grab him with blows, enraged and there he built the brawl, adds el huevo Adriazola. And the Witch sentenced: Already then, for Maradona, losing was death, all the pals we made in that selection took our speech away, we had been pals and they no longer looked at us because for them it was a final against Peru and they lost it, they were left out. I didn't see him cry, but it surely happened because pride kills them. Maradona surely died inside that night. His last name already planted the weight of the myth on his feet, it was Maradona. And he had lost in anger to a great Peru team. History would teach him to suffer more times. That would only be the first.”

    La Nación only mentions the scorers: Lobatón (Peru) 28 min; Maradona (Argentina) 57th min; Vásquez (Peru) 76th min.

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    Summary: 1 goal (header)

    Apparently Maradona’s goal (courtesy from Peruvian archives)
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    The Peruvian sources also stated Maradona was Argentina’s goalscorer, but El Gráfico — who did not cover the matches, but would give a brief summary at the end of Argentina’s elimination — stated the goal was from Gurriere.
    https://www.google.com/amp/s/elbocon.pe/futbol-peruano/en-1977-una-seleccion-juvenil-peruana-elimino-del-mundial-a-los-argentinos-que-tenian-como-estrella-a-diego-12782/?outputType=amp

    https://dechalaca.com/previas-historicas/sudamericano-sub-20/chibolos-aplastapibes
    http://desangreperuana.blogspot.com/2017/01/sudamericano-sub-20-la-unica-vez-que-le.html?m=1

    The Argentinian point of view from El Gráfico.

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    The headlined read: “The kids are not at fault”

    El Gráfico stated that Maradona, Delgado and Alvez played at the level of 7 points, while the rest were at 5 or below. It was an alarmingly poor grade for a team that only had 3 players stand out.

    Lots of questions were asked if the team was poorly managed by the coach and if the players of the 3rd and 4th divisions were the right choices.

    The performance against Uruguay was “bad” with Maradona withdrawn far away from goal having to take on 2 markers constantly glued to him. The rest of the team losing 50/50 balls and lacking any weight offensively.

    Against Paraguay the same situation, but this time vastly surpassed by their physical condition and speed. Argentina looked like kids against men. Paraguay could have demolished the Argentinians by many more goals.

    Peru was considered the less dangerous of the three and only attacked twice and scored, but Argentina deserved better, could have put 4 goals past them, missed many chances, hit the post several times, but it was not meant to be. It was also said that Peru played “treacherously” fouling Maradona continuously.

    In Maradona’s book, he said the team wasn’t bad but no one supported them or cared for that squad.

    By 1979 Maradona and the youth NT would redeem themselves with a vastly superior squad led by Cesar Luis Menotti at the helm and by then Maradona was captain and already established as a world star.
     
  9. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    With Maradona tied to NT duties, his club Argentinos Juniors went 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses without his services. Argentinos Juniors received a bye in round 6, drew in round 7, lost in rounds 8 and 9, and won round 10.

    Maradona would make his return for round 11.

    http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/arg77.html
     
  10. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Metropolitan Championship 1977

    Round 11

    04/05/1977 Banfield 2-1 Argentinos Juniors

    Stadium: Banfield

    Spectators: 1.462

    Maradona made his return on the road and Argentinos Juniors continued down the negative path of fighting off relegation.

    The pitch was in a ‘regular’ state of condition, with the home side in the first half functioning better as a team. Argentinos Juniors was “slow and disorganized.” The “importance of Maradona” in the second period pushed Banfield back into their own half to sustain the lead, with lots of friction and fighting, but Banfield was able to hold on.

    El Gráfico awarded Maradona with a good grade of a 7.

    1C17832F-72B6-49C3-8EFC-FA363976A22C.jpeg
    B8D48551-8D33-4463-B532-5EF256B3F272.jpeg 0448149E-0EA9-443B-B69C-33A5CD95EE51.jpeg
     
  11. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Maradona for Argentinos Juniors in action around 1977.

    E5A31FB4-873C-43BB-BC44-C9AC78BC4E21.jpeg
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Metropolitan Championship 1977

    Round 12

    08/05/1977 Argentinos Juniors 1-0 Estudiantes (La Plata)

    Stadium: La Paternal, Argentinos Juniors

    Spectators: 4.504

    Field condition: poor

    La Nación headlined: “Fortunate victory of Argentinos”

    This was a match that could have gone either way with Argentinos pulling away thanks to a late penalty and Estudiantes missing another one in the last minutes.

    La Nación briefly said that “Maradona was the only player from the home side with concrete ideas” and that the rest of the team was “individually opaque and sterile”.

    El Gráfico said it was a “discrete, boring” and “slow” match with parity.

    El Gráfico awarded Maradona an acceptable grade of a 6.
    C001E796-681F-4AF2-BF62-87B8C7698A44.jpeg
    16A8F504-62AD-449D-85F5-AFE641667032.jpeg 08A0226E-1D92-4185-BADC-6637F92ACBB1.jpeg
     
  13. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Metropolitan Championship 1977

    Round 13

    15/05/1977 Lanús 1-1 Argentinos Juniors

    Stadium: Lanús

    Spectators: 3.007

    For the aficionados that are into trivial details, in this match Maradona scored another solo “Maradoneano” goal by beating 3 defenders. He had previously scored in a friendly with the youth NT a solo effort that brought similarities to his second goal vs Belgium at the 1986 World Cup, but this was his first goal at league level that was individually accomplished on his own without the intervention of any teammate.

    La Nación wrote that Lanús were better in the first half once they took the lead but in the second period, “the work of Di Donato and the skill of Maradona, this one in a celebrated individual action left 3 defenders in his wake and drew level.”

    El Gráfico stated the difference between both sides: “Lanús was the strength, the push, and the claw. Argentinos, the touch, the cut, the individual actions of elaboration. Ribeca (Lanús) and Maradona (Argentinos) were symbols of both systems. Ribeca searched in his physical capacity the ability to attack for his side, while Maradona detached himself quickly from the ball generating the totality of counterattacks. (...) Maradona’s goal was a short shot inside the penalty area after virtuous gambetas (crossovers).

    El Gráfico awarded Maradona with a good grade of a 7 and man of the match.

    Summary: 1 goal

    8C28CA54-D26A-47EF-8156-78F11A2B5916.jpeg 47FB6E3E-6A4D-4724-8F84-B6A95A99B841.jpeg
    E7103E48-214E-4237-B15A-88E4FB0CBAD9.jpeg
     
  14. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Metropolitan Championship 1977

    Round 14

    22/05/1977 Argentinos Juniors 5-2 Atlanta

    Stadium: La Paternal, Argentinos Juniors

    Spectators: 5.564

    Field condition: poor

    Argentinos Juniors received one of the top sides that at that point were ranked 3rd in the league. Maradona would continue with his good performances with 2 goals and the build up to others, but this time he would receive help from teammate Fren, man of the match.

    El Gráfico wrote, “Argentinos based their scheme on the clarity of Fren and the talent of Maradona, author of two goals and receptor of the brutal marking of defenders Abdala and Maletti (...) At the start of the second half, Maradona scored the 4th goal (offside)... There were players of Atlanta that resorted to rough play and others that didn’t play to the expected level (...) At the 80th mark, a header from Lopez, product of a great play from Maradona, resulted lapidary”

    Maradona received from El Gráfico a very good grade of a 8.

    Summary: 2 goals, 1 assist

    EA5364AA-2216-48AE-8381-FF8896609892.jpeg 619A029B-D471-4ACE-A8C2-5C2F09359835.jpeg E218118A-A517-43F8-BFB2-114F423011B2.jpeg
     
  15. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Here is another article about that match vs Atlanta:

    Translated
    “The first Diego vs. Atlanta
    On Sunday May 22, 1977, for the round of 14 of the First Division Metropolitan Tournament, in La Paternal, it was the first time that Argentinos Juniors, with Maradona, faced Atlanta.

    The Bohemian (Atlanta) had been fulfilling a very good campaign in the tournament, with a spectacular start that until the seventh round had them as undefeated leader of the tournament. Then they suffered two consecutive setbacks - before Gimnasia and Quilmes -, but they came in very good condition to face Argentinos in Boyacá. Therefore, a large audience attended the game.

    The 90 minutes were of a very good level, without pressure marks and freedom of movement to create and generate football, on both sides. So much so that in eleven minutes, during the first stage, they scored four goals.

    But, of course, Maradona was playing for Argentinos, who ended up winning with a comfortable 5 to 2. Diego completed an excellent performance, scored two goals and made a spectacular move prior to the fifth goal.

    Until before that match against Bohemio, Diego Maradona had 19 games in the First Level with 4 goals scored. But as everyone had pointed out in games in which Argentinos had acted as a visitor, the first one he made to Mendoza goalkeeper Enrique Juan Reggi, from Atlanta, that afternoon, was Diego's first converted goal playing at home for Argentinos.

    It took place after 10 minutes of play: Carlos Carrizo placed a ball in depth, circumstantially hit the Bohemian defender Ricardo Maletti and the rebound was received by Maradona who with a low shot beat the Bohemian guard.

    Diego's second goal was the Bichitos' fourth, just after the second stage resumed: a cross from the left by Mateo Di Donato received by Carlos Fren, who headed Diego. Maradona, with his back to the Atlanta goal, turned and converted, despite protests from bohemian players claiming the goal scorer's offside.

    But the finishing touch was the fifth and last goal for Argentinos Juniors. Diego eluded Francisco Azzolini, then made a "caño” (nutmeg) to Hugo Abdala and threw a center with remarkable precision so that Jorge Orlando López, with the head, converted.

    Maradona, in addition, had had intervention in Atlanta's second goal, in the first period: an unnecessary hand of his in the area before a center motivated the sanction of a penalty that Héctor Candau executed successfully.”

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/sentimientobohemio.wordpress.com/2016/11/26/el-diego-y-atlanta/amp/
     
  16. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Maradona’s first professional contract in April/May of 1977
    22871378-D2C2-4BB7-96AD-D6F020DD6662.jpeg E0D8EDB9-D3FA-4456-94F9-27F0C52CAA19.jpeg C08A808D-C5BE-40CF-96BF-F8CDD7A82B83.png
     
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  17. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Metropolitan Championship 1977

    Round 15

    25/05/1977 Independiente 0-2 Argentinos Juniors

    Stadium: Independiente

    Spectators: 4.660

    Field condition: Poor

    On a slippery and soaked pitch, in terrible conditions, Maradona took on what would eventually become the runner-up best team in the campaign, which boasted of various NT players, like Galván, Bertoni, Bochini, etc. But in this game, none of those players would be available due to NT duties, so hampered by key absences, the home side was defeated at their den with an excellent Maradona display, who orchestrated his team’s triumph. El Gráfico wrote, “and then Maradona appeared and under the influence of his intelligence he unbalanced the game because he found Lopez and Alvarez (one of the best number 9’s in the country) as the suitable companions to drill suffering to the local defensive side.”

    El Gráfico awarded Maradona an excellent grade of a 9 and man of the match.

    Goles awarded Maradona a good grade of a 7 and man of the match.

    39BEC29B-2082-4E48-8459-EC6624E6A672.jpeg CE9F2B21-B5C6-4587-83C0-55E3B76B60C1.jpeg B67912CA-EBCD-4848-90FD-FE3DBDAD5A27.jpeg
     
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  18. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Friendly

    12/06/1977 Uruguay (Youth NT) 0-6 Argentinos Juniors

    Stadium: Centenario, Montevideo

    The same Uruguayan team that faced Maradona in the Youth WC qualifiers would now face Diego in a friendly but against men. It was the first time that Maradona would visit the mythical Centenario stadium in Montevideo, Uruguay.

    With only 2.721 spectators, the few that were there witnessed one of the biggest humiliations a Uruguayan team would suffer at home. It was a match played at 10am in the morning on a cold day. Despite Uruguay being an under-20 side, they must have figured Argentinos Juniors would be a walkover, considering the ‘small’ team brand from the visiting side. But the home side were in for a crude awakening.

    The celestes fielded that morning Fernando Álvez, José Luis Russo, Daniel Enríquez, José Moreira, Mario Saralegui, Eliseo Rivero, Alberto Bica, Víctor Diogo, Amaro Nadal, Ariel Krasouski and Venancio Ramos. At halftime there were massive changes: Carlos Maynard, Hugo de León, Héctor Vique, Víctor Duque and Gerardo Caetano entered.

    Argentinos Juniors fielded: Munutti, Milano, Romano, Gette, Carrizo, Uruguayan Roux, López, Fren, Carlos Álvarez, Maradona and Di Donato initially played for Argentines.


    The link below said this:
    To summarize, Argentinos Juniors won 6-0, with a goal by Maradona and five by Álvarez (later a striker with some highlight in Boca), of which three were penalties. Diego's goal was a quick move, which placed him only against Álvez; he rounded the goalkeeper and finished in the open net.

    The few who watched the game said that it was a dance, with the rhythm set by Maradona, whom the celestial could never stop and find.

    The press was very hard on the Uruguayans. "Sobering defeat: a timely wake-up call," headlined his comment Marcelino Pérez in El País.

    Coach Bentancor did not look for excuses: "He fell into the worst defect that a team can have: the opponent was underestimated," he said. "The victory was the punishment received by the lack of humility."

    "They were nowhere near the production they deployed in any South American game, but this time they faced a team of experienced men," Maradona told La Mañana newspaper after the game.

    “In Venezuela Venancio Ramos seemed the best to me, he showed enormous ease of movement and an unbalanced ability with the ball. Today I did not see it that way, "he added.

    A few days later, the sky blue equaled 1-1 against Sport Clube de Pelotas' first. In Tunisia, however, they had a great campaign: they reached the semifinal and only lost on penalties to the Soviet Union with a clearly damaging referee. Almost all the members of that squad had important careers and defended the largest team, even in world championships. Maradona, of course, too.

    Summary: 1 goal

    Maradona’s goal
    48211812-7E83-4043-AF44-AAC3F7450330.jpeg 86572BC2-95B6-4FE9-931C-FDB754EE8374.jpeg

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ov...a-olvidado-primer-dia-estadio-centenario.html
     
  19. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Friendly

    20/06/1977 Las Palmas (Córdoba club of Argentina) 0-1 Argentinos Juniors

    The links below reflect on this friendly of Argentinos Juniors.

    “Diego Maradona is the unmistakable central figure in this story, in the game that was played on Monday June 20, 1977 on the Las Palmas pitch between the local and Argentinos Juniors.

    The match was one of the many friendlies that the Buenos Aires clubs had to make to stay in shape, since the Metropolitan Championship of that year, which by the way was the longest in AFA history (46 rounds), had entered a Recess due to the international series of friendlies made by the Argentine team in Boca field, in preparation for the '78 World Cup.

    Las Palmas, at that time in the First B of the Córdobesa League - that year finished fifth behind Palermo, Presidente Roca School, Alas Argentinas and All Boys - became a tough obstacle for those of Maradona, who were 12th in the Metropolitan and they had came from beating Independiente 2-0.

    Despite the fact that the visit quickly took the lead with a goal from the aforementioned Alvarez in the 18th minute, the game ended with a tight 1-0 for Argentinos. Gabriel Fernández was the referee of the match and 667,900 ($ 1,712 according to the change of the time) were raised.

    Synthesis
    Las Palmas: Montes; Carranza, García, Luque and Barrionuevo (Machado); Oviedo, Carrara and Barufaldi; Fraire (Monks), Ormeño and Martinozzi (Bocalón). DT: Froilán Altamirano.

    Argentinos Juniors: Carlos Munutti; Carlos A. Carrizo (Alfonso Roma), Carlos Milani, Miguel Gette and Héctor Romano; Carlos Fren, Nelson Agresta del Cerro (Rubén Giacobetti) and Diego Maradona; Jorge López, Carlos Alvarez and Rubén Giordano (Hilario Bravi). DT: Antonio D'Accorso.

    Goal: PT: 18m Carlos Alvarez (AJ).

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/mmundod.lavoz.com.ar/amp/content/si-maradona-jugo-contra-las-palmas-3

    Another view from Mundo Lavoz:

    The day that all the clapping went to Diego Maradona

    On June 20, 1977, Las Palmas, who played on the local B, hired Argentinos Juniors to see Maradona in action.

    Only the cold, intense and cruel, discussed the leading role that Monday June 20, 1977 on the field of Las Palmas. Diego Maradona, then 16 years old and a figure of Argentinos Juniors, was already one of the great attractions of Argentine football with an abundance of "10" of the highest hierarchy.

    The blues "from the old road to La Calera", as the rapporteurs of the time liked to say, were leaders in the B of the Córdoban Football League and wanted to give themselves a great taste: to face off against an AFA First Division club and enjoy who was already guessing as a great national promise.

    The two-month recess to the Buenos Aires tournament, to allow the realization of an international series by the César Menotti team, forced the clubs to look for friendlies in the interior to keep fit and generate resources. And a Buenos Aires leader from Las Palmas, with ties to those of La Paternal, was the key to holding the meeting.

    They were the golden years of the Córdoban League, with teams capable of standing up to the strongest in the Argentine capital. A few months earlier, General Paz Juniors had celebrated his promotion to the Primera local with a 4-2 over the highly valued Ángel Labruna’s River Plate, while in the national teams, the Cordoba teams were a sensation.

    And that afternoon, Diego and company had to work hard to get a tight 1-0 over the premises thanks to a free kick goal by Carlos “Bartolo” Álvarez.

    "I remember that it was cold that it was leaving the field", Aníbal García, central marker of the premises in that game, tells today. "It was a cloudy, horrible day, but the same was the case with many people called by the presence of Maradona," added the person who works as an employee at the club today.

    Some of the star's movements are still recorded on García's retinas. "As we warmed up, Maradona started playing with the ball. He dominated it with his foot, knee, shoulder ... ", says the former defender of the blues.

    “After the game, there was a lunch service in the club's bocce court and there we surrounded Maradona together to talk to him. He was a somewhat shy and humble kid, nothing to do with what happened next, ”says García.

    Maradona and the controversy

    The ‘78 World Cup was near and Menotti had temporarily disaffected Maradona to try out some of the numerous offensive midfielders at hand: Ricardo Bochini, Omar Larrosa, Juan Ramón Rocha and Ricardo Villa. He had previously tried Daniel Valencia, Norberto Alonso and Alberto Beltrán.

    Antonio D’Accorso, coach of Argentinos, could not stand the exclusion of Diego and pointed to “Flaco” in the pre-game with Las Palmas: “The problem with the team is Menotti, he talks too much and recently. You have to finish with the verse at once. We cannot continue deceiving ourselves. We are the moral champions, but we don't beat anyone. ” Maradona, on the other hand, was more cautious: “For me, it is a compliment to have been in the national team. I'm still fighting to be on the team next year. " In the end, Diego had to wait until 1979 to consolidate in the selection. As much as in June 1977, there were already several who dazzled with their magic left-handed.

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/mmundo...e-todas-las-palmas-fueron-para-diego-maradona

    EE374C91-B752-443A-BE80-FC7E1B1ED729.jpeg 18906584-5501-4E36-BA3B-AE356D8648FD.jpeg 1CB7FEE3-39B6-4898-8AAA-58292BB24C52.jpeg
     
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  20. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Metropolitan Championship 1977

    Round 16

    17/07/1977 Argentinos Juniors 1-0 Rosario Central

    Stadium: La Paternal, Argentinos Juniors

    Field condition: Poor

    Argentinos won this game at the last minute with a corner kick taken by Maradona which was headed by Giordano into the path of Lopez who scored.

    According to La Nación, Rosario Central placed 8 men at the back to obstruct and destroy Argentinos attacks and virtually only played for a draw. Maradona was tightly marked by Mancinelli, who did an “implacable” job on him, sometimes by resorting to fouls.

    El Gráfico awarded Maradona with a poor grade of a 5.

    140EC7AC-06A0-4DAE-ADDD-AA6BEA28B1CB.jpeg 53E83EE6-1090-4600-994C-2025F6C014EF.jpeg
     
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  21. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Metropolitan Championship 1977

    Round 17

    24/07/1977 All Boys 3-4 Argentinos Juniors

    Stadium: All Boys

    Field condition: Regular

    This was the derby of both neighboring sides.

    El Gráfico wrote:
    “A libero (Tagliani) and two forwards (Britapaja-Nieto) and the “hunting” of Maradona (Rilo-Peracca). A strange scheme for a local team that needs to win. It did not work. The skill of Maradona and the constant attacks of Lopez and Alvarez destroyed them.”

    After and during the game problems of hooliganisms transpired in a hotly contested affair, with fans being detained for disturbances.

    El Gráfico awarded Maradona a very good grade of an 8 and man of the match.

    Summary: 1 goal

    0AD7C3B3-1264-425D-BCAC-0687179DE347.jpeg E13E3A5D-343E-4A43-89BA-72021FE74E46.jpeg
     
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  22. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    Metropolitan Championship 1977

    Round 18

    27/07/1977 Argentinos Juniors 2-0 Colón (Santa Fe)

    Stadium: La Paternal, Argentinos Juniors

    Field condition: Terrible

    This was a game that varied drastically in the evaluation of players across different sources. For El Gráfico everyone played poorly, but for Goles and La Nación, Argentinos Juniors performed well and their key players graded well.

    El Gráfico classified Maradona with a poor grade of a 5 while in sharp contrast Goles rated him with a very good grade of an 8.

    La Nación wrote, “Excellent the displays of Agresta and Cerro and the duo of Maradona-Alvarez.”

    Goles wrote, “Laudable offensive display starting from the superiority of Maradona in the one-on-one with defender Villarruel.”

    El Gráfico wrote, “Both teams played a monotonous and repetitive game. The flashes of Maradona and the opportunism of Lopez was only useful for their team but not for the spectacle.”

    BDF4E978-E94F-4C91-A829-F0BAC00D7A65.jpeg
    8DC0BA91-A775-4DF4-9C58-A4DFCD984DB3.jpeg

    550EC67B-E762-4665-8170-8D5185F1535A.jpeg
     
  23. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    #73 Vegan10, Jun 10, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2020
    Metropolitan Championship 1977

    Round 19

    31/07/1977 Huracán 0-3 Argentinos Juniors

    Stadium: Huracán

    Field condition: Poor

    The following game has become known for Maradona’s ‘greatest’ goal in the first division up until this point. Although he scored twice, it was his second goal that has received recognition as one of his greatest in his career. It was another individual soloist act where he picked the ball up inside his own half and left every Huracán opponent in his wake.

    Cesar Luis Menotti was in the stands and although Huracán were not doing well in the campaign (much had to do with various NT players missing action due to NT duties) but this time Huracán were at full strength. NT captain, Carrascosa, and at that point starting goalkeeper for the NT, “chocolate” Baley, as well as stars like René “el loco” Houseman and Osvaldo Ardiles would be present. But the star that shone brighter than anyone was Diego Maradona, with the great grade of a perfect 10 by the magazine of Goles and an excellent grade of a 9 by El Gráfico, with both sources awarding him man of the match.

    The game had been tight until Huracán had a player sent off and from then on Argentinos Juniors found holes in the home side’s defense.

    El Gráfico wrote, “The number 10 converted 2 goals, the second one after eluding Flores, Baley and putting the ball between the legs of Carrascosa.”

    La Nación wrote, “Great play from Maradona (...) No one stopped from applauding”

    Goles headlined: “To think that Maradona is still only a junior”

    “The surprising level of play from Argentinos has its rubric thanks to the exceptional work of Maradona. “El Diego” showed all his resources and his second goal resulted really in a “piece of art”.

    “And the great play is produced that lifted the fans out of their seats and that leaves half of Huracán’s team on their knees... And the left foot of the kid, that leaves, from the halfway line, Flores on the ground, he unbalances Fanesi-Longo, eludes Baley and he places it like those that know, with spontaneity, wit and forcefulness, in the goal... Later in the dressing rooms he would admit it wasn’t his best goal or best game, that he found out during halftime that the NT coach was watching from the stands, but that did not perturb or make him want to surpass himself, “because the coach already knows me”..., all spoken with simplicity and conviction.”

    Recently the newspaper of Clarín covered this goal.

    Clarín:

    “Diego Maradona returns to the field where he scored a better goal than against England in 1986”

    Diego Maradona told the end of that legend in an interview with TyC Sports:

    -I faked him like this, I faked him here and spout. A great goal.

    In front were, in that final stretch of the play, two emblematic footballers of that time: the goalkeeper was Héctor Baley, Chocolate, world champion in 1978. The victim of the final spout was Jorge Carrascosa, admired by Diego, captain of the National Team Menotti until he decided to exclude himself.

    Javier Roimiser is a doctor, but above all there is another passion that drives him: his name is Argentinos. Today he is the head of the club's History Department. He was born in October '74 and childhood found him looking at Maradona in black and white, on television. While his companions followed several imported superheroes on TV, he chose to watch Diego from the corner that he could. He knows details in his capacity as a historian and passionate. "That goal was the best in the history of Diego and football. I sign it. Without a doubt," he now tells Clarín. Yes, better than that to the English in Mexico City.

    The goal was from goal to goal. Carlos Milani - central marker in that Argentinos of 1977 - once commented to Roimiser: "The ball came from the defense to the bottom of the Hurricane goal ... They did not touch it, it was Diego's greatest goal ... he was holding my head and I couldn't believe it ... As an anecdote, the whole stadium applauded for three or four minutes and Nitti did not give the order to leave midfield looking at Diego ... If Negro Enrique boasts of having Given Maradona's pass-goal against the English, I gave Diego the most beautiful pass-goal he ever made. I made the goal kick and gave it to the foot in the crescent of our area. "

    That match ended 3-0 for Diego's Argentinos. The first goal was converted by El Diez, then also with ten on his back, upside down. The second was Carlos Álvarez, from the penalty. The third was and is part of the history of football. And of its mythology. It happened 18 minutes into the second half.

    Summary: 2 goals (1 header)

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cl...gol-mejor-inglaterra-1986_0_rd1dqtrU.amp.html
    0650C34E-F8C9-4FA2-9162-B82A1B1BCCAA.jpeg 05888E0A-E497-4910-8B89-E2F92350E496.jpeg
    BCC54A11-2FCE-47DC-83FF-3692906274A0.jpeg
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    FB46DB0A-FAD2-40DD-9CFF-BB96631DB696.jpeg

    https://www.clarin.com/deportes/video-gol-maradona-huracan_3_Yd4G5WLt.html

    With this win Argentinos Juniors were only 3 points behind first place River Plate, but with still half a season to play.
     

    Attached Files:

  24. Vegan10

    Vegan10 Member+

    Aug 4, 2011
    #74 Vegan10, Jun 16, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2020
    Metropolitan Championship 1977

    Round 20

    07/08/1977 Argentinos Juniors 0-1 Boca Juniors

    Stadium: Huracán (Argentinos Juniors played as local)

    Field condition: regular

    This was the first time Maradona faced off against Boca and how well they received him, with 15 fouls! The plan was clear: kick Maradona and you neutralize Argentinos’ attacks. This game was played on neutral ground at the Huracán stadium.

    Despite the 15 fouls that Maradona received, which cut the flow of the game and impeded Argentinos from asserting their influence on the match, Diego was considered to have had a good performance, with El Gráfico awarding him a 7.

    El Gráfico headlined: “Erase Maradona”

    El Gráfico wrote, “The systematic destruction of Maradona (they committed 15 personal fouls on him) negated his team their best offensive argument.”

    El Gráfico counted every foul committed by a Boca player on Maradona. Diego later stated: “They all came at me. My whole body hurts (...) I want to go to bed with ice all over my legs...”

    According to La Nación, Argentinos Juniors delegates, stated: “The official permanently jeopardized us. Boca committed too many fouls on Maradona and did not sanction a penalty.”

    FF27861A-C6EE-42BE-AFF2-DB845AEDC83C.jpeg E0F6870D-E812-41B6-97BE-3778919B77E3.jpeg 1ACB45DF-E94C-43DA-89D6-87513821930F.jpeg C0214EE8-63AD-4A71-9266-4D9737232E21.jpeg
    F628D64B-1506-41FE-A5BA-20A73D80DBE6.jpeg E361EEFE-60F7-465C-9A15-D89D5BBB544E.jpeg
     
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  25. MJWizards

    MJWizards Member

    Aug 17, 2019
    This thread is AMAZING!! Thanks vegan!
     
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