The Maracana blow

The match kicked off in front of an official crowd of 199,954 and although Brazil were relentlessly attacking the Uruguayan’s goal the first half ended nil-nil. Two minutes into the second half and Friaca gave Brazil the lead with the Maracana erupting with joy and belief that the game would now be a formality with even more goals going in their favour.

With twenty four minutes left on the clock the Maracana was silenced briefly as Schiaffino drilled the ball past the Brazilian keeper Barbosa. Aware that their team would still be winners the crowd cheered on their team again.

Eleven minutes now remained. The Uruguayan Gigghia dribbled past Bigode like he did before to set up the equaliser this time shot and the ball went in off the near post. It was like a knife through the heart as the Maracana was stunned into deathly silence as they looked on in disbelief wondering or praying that they had wrongly seen Uruguay take the lead. Gigghia would later go on to say ‘that only three people have silenced the Maracana. Frank Sinatra, Pope John Paul II and me.’ The goal was enough to win the game for Uruguay making them the World Champions for a second time.

Brazilian’s stumbled out of the stadium in complete shock. Ninety minutes beforehand it was a carnival mood, with the match against Uruguay seen as a coronation for Brazil to be crowned the Kings of football. Instead it turned into their worst nightmare.

Follow the link to continue reading the article: The Aftermath