Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (March 8th) in football history. If you have more stories and news that happened on this day in history, feel free to post them in the comment area and share them with AFers!
On This Day in 2017 - Best Comeback Ever? I Agree
On 8th March 2017, Barcelona smashed PSG 6-1 and reversed a four-goal deficit in the second leg of their round of 16 tie, making it the largest comeback in UEFA Champions League history.
It was the third time Paris Saint-Germain faced Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League knockout phases, having lost the two previous encounters in the 2012–13 and the 2014–15 seasons on aggregate.
The game had an impressive attendance of 96,290 despite the home side's heavy defeat in the first game. Luis Suárez scored the first goal of the game in the 3rd minute after heading the ball over the line before it was cleared by Meunier. In the 40th minute, Paris Saint-Germain's Layvin Kurzawa scored an own goal in an attempt to block a shot by Andrés Iniesta.
The third goal came in the 50th minute via a penalty scored by Lionel Messi after Neymar was fouled by Thomas Meunier. Barcelona's hopes were brought down after Edinson Cavani scored Paris Saint-Germain's only goal in the 62nd minute, leaving them requiring three more to win due to the away goals rule now favouring PSG.
Neymar scored two goals in the closing stages – a free kick in the 88th minute and a penalty in the 91st – to make it 5–1. In the final seconds of the match, Neymar appeared once again to deliver a cross into the penalty area, and Roberto scored their sixth and final goal in the 95th minute, achieving the greatest comeback in the history of the Champions League and the European Cup, with the outcome described as "astonishing", "incredible", and "a miracle" by the media!
On This Day in 2011 - Another Epic Comeback From Barca!
On 8th March 2011, ten-man Arsenal succumbed to Barcelona as they were knocked out of the Champions League by the Catalans.
Messi runs the show again as controversial Van Persie red card ruins Gunners' Champions League dream.
Arsenal suffered heartache at the hands of Barcelona in the Nou Camp for the second successive season as the Spanish champions moved into the quarter finals of the Uefa Champions League with a 3-1 victory, winning the tie 4-3 on aggregate.
Barcelona dominated the match with their slick passing game which stunted anything Arsenal tried to create, and two goals from Lionel Messi and one from Xavi won the game for the Catalans with Sergio Busquets scoring an own goal for Arsenal’s consolation. However it was the controversial sending off of Robin van Persie that helped swing the game in Barcelona's favour after the Gunners' fortuitous equaliser.
On This Day in 2009 - Ronaldo's Return To Form
On 8 March 2009, Brazilian three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo scored an injury-time equalizer for Corinthians in their match against Palmeiras. It was his first goal after recovering from a potentially career-ending knee injury suffered over a year earlier while playing for AC Milan.
The striker had a history of knee problems, with two separate injuries to his right knee while playing for Inter (1997-2002). He battled back both times and recovered in time to help Brazil win the 2002 World Cup and claim his third FIFA World Player of the Year award. In January 2007, he joined Milan after five seasons with Real Madrid. On 13 February 2008, he injured his left knee while leaping for a cross in a 1-1 draw with Livorno. The injury ended his season and there was speculation that it would end his career as well.
Ronaldo, however, was determined to return. He returned to Brazil and started training with Flamengo to rehabilitate his knee. The Rio club indicated their willingness to sign him once he was able to play, but, in December 2009, he controversially signed instead with their league rivals Corinthians.
On 4 March 2009, he made his first appearance for Corinthians, coming on as a substitute in Copa do Brasil match against Itumbiara. In the match against Palmeiras on 8 March, he again entered as a substitute, coming on in the 63rd minute with his side down 1-0. He quickly made his presence felt, sending a booming strike off the crossbar in the 78th minute, before heading in the equalizing goal in the 93rd minute. He ran behind the goal to celebrate with the Corinthians supporters, causing a mild pitch invasion.
Ronaldo finished the season with 10 goals in 14 matches and recently signed an extension to remain at Corinthians through 2011.
On This Day in 1982 - San Diego Takes It Inside
On 8 March 1982, the San Diego Sockers won the first of their 10 indoor championships, beating the Tampa Bay Rowdies 10-5.
It was the fifth NASL indoor season, with thirteen of the fourteen teams from the league's earlier outdoor season taking part. San Diego had lost in the outdoor playoffs to the Cosmos, who went on to win that title, while Tampa Bay had failed even to make it into the postseason.
Tampa Bay qualified for the indoor playoffs, however, with the league's third-best record (behind Edmonton and Chicago), then advanced to the final with wins over Montreal and Tulsa. San Diego, who had finished fourth overall, reached the final by beating Vancouver and Edmonton.
The final was played over two legs, with San Diego winning the first 9-7 on 3 March. Five days later, they dominated the second leg, taking a 5-0 lead in the first half en route to the 10-5 final score. San Diego striker Juli Veee, the league's top scorer that season, got a hat-trick.
The Sockers went on to win four more straight titles between the NASL and MISL, then another five between 1988 and 1992.
On This Day in 1949 - The Coming Of Hugo
On 8 March 1949, Barcelona star and 1975 Copa America hero Hugo Sotil was born in Ica, Peru. A striker and attacking midfielder, Sotil's skill on the ball has been compared to that of George Best. Unfortunately, the comparisons don't stop there, as drinking problems led to his premature decline.
Sotil made his professional debut in 1968 with CD Municipal, where he scored 49 goals in five seasons. In 1973, he moved to Barcelona and, alongside Johann Cruyff, he helped them win the league in his first season--Barça's first league title in 14 years. His problems with alcohol surfaced in his second season and he temporarily lost his starting position to newcomer Johann Neeskens, though he reclaimed it during the 1975-76 season.
He earned 62 caps for Peru during his career, but the most significant one was the 1975 Copa America final against Colombia. Barcelona did not allow him to participate in the preliminary matches, so he flew to Caracas for the final, heading directly to the stadium from the airport and arriving there as his teammates were already warming up. Despite the lack of preparation, he scored the match's only goal in the 25th minute to give Peru the 1-0 victory.
Sotil returned to Peru in 1977 to play for Alianza Lima, winning the league in his only two seasons there. He spent two seasons with Independiente Medellín, two with CD Municipal, and one with Espartanos FC before retiring in 1984 at the age of 35.
