Soccer in Sun and Shadow

Goal by Gento

It was 1963. Real Madrid faced Pontevedra.

As soon as the referee blew the opening whistle, there was a goal by Di Stéfano. Then right at the beginning of the second half Puskás scored. From that point on, the fans waited in suspense for the next goal, which would be number 2,000 for Real Madrid since it started playing in the Spanish League in 1928. Madrid fans invoked the goal by kissing their fingers while making the sign of the cross, and the enemy fans warded it off by pointing their index and little fingers at the ground.

The game turned around. Pontevedra began to dominate. When night fell and only a few minutes remained, and that goal so desired and so feared seemed lost from sight, Amancio fired off a dangerous free kick: Di Stéfano couldn’t reach the ball, but it was trapped by Gento. The Madrid left winger broke free of the defenders surrounding him, shot and won. The stadium went wild.

All rival teams were on the lookout to capture Francisco Gento, the fugitive. Sometimes they managed to put him behind bars, but he always escaped.