On May the 2nd, 1962, the European cup final was between holders Benfica from Portugal and the five times winners Real Madrid from Spain. In the previous season, Benfica had won the trophy by beating Barcelona. Would they manage to defend their title and prove that they have earned their place among Europe's finest by also beating Real Madrid? The Spanish giants, on the other hand, were confident and ready to top Europe once more after previous season's short break. Of course that would not be easy since Benfica were determined to win one more cup. The venue of the final was the Olympic Stadium of Amsterdam in Holland and at the night of the final it was packed with 60,000 spectators.
In the first half, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas dominated the pitch. Di Stefano was setting the pace while Puskas was a constant threat for Benfica post. In the 18th minute, Di Stefano put a long pass from his own area to Puskas who was on the half way line. Puskas ran onto the ball, took it unchallenged into the Benfica area to score a great goal for Real Madrid. Five minutes later, Puskas scored a second one. He hit the ball from 30 meters and it went into the far corner of the net. Real Madrid had an early two goals lead and seemed to settle the final. On the contrary though, Benfica quite easily managed to equalize within ten minutes. It was Aguas initially who scored after the rebound from a shot on the post by Eusebio, and Cavem later on with a magnificent shot outside the box that leveled the score for Benfica. Real Madrid seemed to regain control of the match when Puskas completed his hat-trick in fine fashion six minutes before half time by scoring and making it 3:2.
Guttmann, Benfica's manager quickly understood that the only way for his team to turn the match around was to restrain Di Stefano, the mastermind of Madrid. Di Stefano was the source of creation and inspiration for Real Madrid. For the rest of the match Guttmann picked Cavem to closely guard the Spanish superstar and this proved to be the turning point of the final. Di Stefano was blocked, Puskas was not receiving the balls he wanted and Benfica took control and produced an amazing second-half comeback. Mario Coluna in the 50' minute equalized with an amazing twenty meters shot. In the 64', Eusebio was brought down by Di Stefano in the penalty area and the referee awarded a penalty. Eusebio scored from the white spot and Benfica was ahead. Five minutes later, Eusebio scored again for Benfica who end up winners by 5:3. The latter was a truly breathtaking strike worthy of winning any final. At the end of the match, Benfica received great ovation on the pitch and the European Cup was presented to Jose Aguas for the second year running.
After the final whistle, Eusebio ran for 30 meters to exchange jerseys with Ferenc Puskas the legendary figure of Real Madrid. It was a symbolic movement. The transition of power from one generation to the other. Puskas and the mighty Real Madrid of the five consecutive european cups and the young successor star of Benfica, the new super power in European football. Benfica was now considered to be among the top clubs in Europe. They won the European Cup for the second successive season. Having defeated both Barcelona and Real Madrid, Benfica made a sensation across Europe and Eusebio was one of the best players in the world.
