Soccer in Sun and Shadow

Peñarol’s Glory Years

In 1966 the champions of the Americas and Europe, Peñarol and Real Madrid, faced each other twice. With fancy dribbling, beautiful plays, and barely any sweat on their shirts, Peñarol won both matches 2–0.

In the 1960s, Peñarol inherited the scepter from Real Madrid, the greatest team of the previous decade. Peñarol won the Inter-Continental Cup twice in those years and was champion of the Americas three times.

When the best squad in the world took the field, they warned the opposing players: “Did you bring another ball? This one belongs to us.”

The ball was forbidden entry to Mazurkiewicz’s net, in the midfield she obeyed the orders of “Tito” Gonçalves, and up front she buzzed on the feet of Spencer and Joya. At “Pepe” Sasía’s command, she would pierce the goal. But she had fun too, especially when Pedro Rocha would swing her back and forth.