1969 Anglo-Italian League Cup

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The 1969 Anglo-Italian League Cup was a football cup competition held between clubs in England and Italy won by Swindon Town. It was the inaugural Anglo-Italian League Cup competition.

1 Pre-match
2 The Final
- 2.1 1st leg
- 2.2 2nd leg
3 Post game
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Pre-match

The competition was set up at the same time as the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1969, but this competition was solely contested by the winners of the League Cup in England and the Coppa Italia in Italy, over two legs.

Swindon Town had won the 1969 League Cup Final against Arsenal whilst A.S. Roma won the Coppa Italia 1968-69 competition to qualify for the final.^[1]

[edit] The Final

The final was played over two legs, with A.S. Roma drawn to host the first game in Rome. The second leg was played in England.

[edit] 1st leg

A.S. Roma	2 — 1	Swindon Town
Manager: Team: Alberto Ginulfi (Goalkeeper) Luciano Spinosi Francesco Carpenetti Elvio Salvori Francesco Capelli Sergio Santarini Joaquin Luca Peiro Renato Cappellini Franco Cordova Fabio Enzo Fabio Capello Substitutes: None Scorers: Enzo (pen) 43' Capellini 68'	Half-time: 1-0 Competition: Anglo-Italian League Cup (1st leg) Date: Wednesday 27 August 1969 Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Attendance: 50,000 Match rules: 90 minutes. Referee: K. Howley (Middlesbrough)	Manager: Fred Ford Team: Downsborough (GK) Thomas Trollope Butler Burrows Harland Horsfield off 72' Smart Smith Noble Rogers Substitutes: Chris Jones on 72' Scorers: Noble 52'

Roma relied on attacking tactics in the early stages of the game, forcing Swindon to defend and rely on counter-attack moves to break the dead-lock. The first half was characterised by the many attempts on goal by Roma's centre-forward Enzo saved by Swindon goalkeeper Downsborough.^[2]

In the 12th minute Roma were denied a penalty. Peiro had fed a pass through to Cappellini and, as the inside-right cut into the penalty area, he appeared to be sent full-length by a tackle from Harland. Instead of the expected penalty, English referee Kevin Howley gave Swindon a free-kick.^[2]

Shortly before half-time, Elvio Salvori, the Roma half-back, dived over the outstretched leg of Roger Smart.^[1] A penalty was awarded, which Fabio Enzo converted. Just two minutes later, the half-time whistle sounded.

Then, as Salvori broke into the penalty area, he literally threw himself over the outstretched leg of Smart. Much to the dismay of the Town players, the referee immediately awarded a penalty from which Enzo scored.^[2]

The second half was more evenly contested, and Swindon equalised through Peter Noble who sliced a chipped free-kick from John Smith just out of the grasp of the Roma goalkeeper, Alberto Ginulfi.^[2] Roma responded with a period of concerted attack and were rewarded when Renato Cappellini headed home a cross from a corner, which proved to be the winner. Swindon pressurised the Italian defence for the final 10 minutes of the game but could not equalise,^[1] A.S. Roma won 2-1.

[edit] 2nd leg

Swindon Town	4 — 0 Swindon win 5-2 on aggregate	A.S. Roma
Manager: Fred Ford Team: Downsborough (GK) Thomas Trollope Butler Blick Harland Horsfield Smart Smith Noble Rogers Substitutes: None Scorers: Horsfield 15', 70', 89' Rogers 72'	Half-time: 1-0 Competition: Anglo-Italian League Cup (2nd leg) Date: Wednesday 10 September 1969 Venue: County Ground, Swindon Attendance: 11,978 Match rules: 90 minutes. Referee: B. De Marchi (Italy)	Manager: Team: Alberto Ginulfi (Goalkeeper) Luciano Spinosi Francesco Scaratti Francesco Carpenetti Aldo Bet Sergio Santarini Joaquin Luca Peiro Fabio Enzo off 45' Franco Cordova Fausto Landini off 66' Fabio Capello Substitutes: Braglia on 45' Salvori on 66' Scorers: None

For the second leg, Roma attempted to hold onto their lead with a defensive formation. It took Swindon fifteen minutes to pull level on aggregate, when Arthur Horsfield volleyed home a cross from John Smith. The game remained at 1-0 until the 70th minute, when Horsfield added his second and Don Rogers scored the third two minutes later.^[3]

With Roma pushing forward to get back into the game, Horsfield completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute - meaning Swindon Town had won 4-0 on the night, and 5-2 on aggregate.^[3]

[edit] Post game

Impressed with the competition and spirit of both fans and clubs, the Italian FA organised another Anglo-Italian competition for later the same season.^[1] This was to be the 1970 Anglo-Italian Cup, a competition that Swindon Town won. A.S. Roma were later Anglo-Italian Cup champions in 1972.