Poland's 1961 football victory over the Soviets remembered
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
21.05.2014 11:30
Older football fans in Poland are remembering an historic clash between their national side and the Soviet Union in Warsaw on 21 May 1961, which finished 1 – 0 to the home side and included a near riot by Polish fans.
Soviet Union's Walery Łabanowski (right) and Henryk Szczepansk 1961, Warsawi. photo - PAP / CAF
Poland had lost 1 – 7 to the Soviets in Moscow the year before so they were eager to get revenge on an old enemy, seen by many as an occupying power during the communist period.
The match 53 years ago at the Stadion Dziesieciolecia – the site where the new National Stadium stands today – was attended by 75,000 spectators, who went wild when striker Ernest Pohl scored the decisive goal for the Polish side.
The victory was one of only four Poland achieved over the Soviets, with the last match between the two sides in August 1989, ending in a 1 – 1 draw.
But the match 53 years ago will also be remembered, Rzeczpospolita daily journalist Stefan Szczepłek has told Polish Radio, for crowd trouble which broke out after a heavy tackle by a Soviet forward on Poland's goalkeeper, Edward Szymkowiak.
Bottles were thrown onto the pitch after “the goalkeeper lost consciousness and an ambulance had to drive onto the pitch. Quickly a rumour spread around the stadium: the Russians have killed a Pole,” Szczepłek said. (pg)