OTD: Your Daily Dose of Soccer History

The Priest Who Silenced La Plata

OTD E0180 — 29 Apr 1971: Juan Manuel Bazurko, a Basque missionary priest playing up front for Barcelona SC, scored the only goal in La Plata to hand tricampeón Estudiantes their first ever home defeat in Copa Libertadores. This episode traces Bazurko’s extraordinary path from the seminary to Ecuador, Barcelona SC’s Catalan roots, Alberto Spencer’s key role, Estudiantes’ dynasty, the taunting build-up in La Plata, and why La Hazaña de La Plata still lives in South American football memory.

Ideas: otd@17lawsguy.com