In 1976, the two teams competed in the Copa Atlântico, which ended in a fight at Maracanã.
The image of Rivellino running from Ramirez and then falling down the steps of the Maracanã sets the tone for the rivalry between the teams of Brazil and Uruguay in the seventies. The two teams entered the field on April 28, 1976 for the Atlantic Cup, a traditional tournament at the time that also involved Argentina and Paraguay.
The national team, led by Oswaldo Brandão, ended the first half losing 1-0, thanks to a goal from Torres. But, in the final stage, Brazil managed the comeback: Rivellino, with a shot from outside the area, and Zico, with a penalty. However, the rivalry between the two teams came to the fore like never before. The “quintino chicken” was fouled by right-back Ramirez, at the edge of the area. In the middle of the argument between the players, Rivellino punched his opponent, but the confusion was resolved.
As soon as referee Romualdo Arppi Filho ended the game, Riva calmly left the pitch. Suddenly, Ramirez started running towards him. Alerted by a reporter, the Brazilian athlete started towards the stairs leading to the locker room and slipped. However, he managed to escape the beating that continued on the pitch.
A member of the Uruguayan delegation, wearing a suit and tie, lost his glasses when exchanging punches during the confusion. Jornal dos Sports headlined: “Brazil won with the ball. Uruguay appealed”. The report highlighted: “At the end of the game, after Marco Antônio hit Corbo’s post – another highlight – Ramirez chased Rivellino and started a tremendous riot, which involved all the players, the reserves and even the reporters on the field. And once again Uruguayans felt in their hearts that the time when Brazil only worried about football is long gone. Our team won in the game and in the stroke, with emphasis on Orlando, Chicão and Gol, the ones who hit the most.”
The game is more remembered for the confusion at Maracanã than for the Brazilian team’s good victory over their rivals.
BRAZIL 2 x 1 URUGUAY – MARACANÃ – 28.04.1976
BRAZIL: Jairo; Toninho (Orlando), Miguel, Amaral and Marco Antônio; Chicão, Zico and Rivellino; Gil, Enéas (Roberto Dinamite) and Lula.
Coach: Oswaldo Brandão.
URUGUAY: Corbo; Washington González, De Los Santos, Chagas and Ramírez; Acosta, Dario Pereyra and Jiménez; Rudy Rodríguez (Revetria), Fernando Morena and Daniel Torres (Manuel Keosseián).
Technician: José Rodríguez.
Referee: Romualdo Arppi Filho (Brazil).
Goals: Torres (15) in the first half. Rivellino (9) and Zico (27) in the second half.
Expulsion: Manuel Keosseián
Competition: Atlantic Cup and Rio Branco Cup.
Audience: 62,672 paying people.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
