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On This Day in Football History - April 11: Champions League Madness, Federico Macheda & More

Nobody knows what day it is and you're starting to get thoroughly fed up with your family - you could very easily be forgiven for thinking life in lockdown is actually those few ambiguous days between Christmas and New Year.

Unfortunately, you're spoiled for choice football-wise over the Christmas period, which is anything but the case right now. Remember when managers were actually complaining about there being too much football? 

Those were the days.

Fortunately, 90min are here to help you reminisce about that great and good in the football world that's unfolded down the years on 11 April.

1937 - France 2-5 Charlton Athletic 

France were due to play Italy in an international friendly in 1937, but the Italians were ordered to pull out at the last minute by leader Benito Mussolini.

Who stepped into replace them? Charlton Athletic, obviously. 

Despite having played Huddersfield Town at the Valley only the day before, the Addicks travelled to Paris and hit five past their international opponents. 

1959 - Billy Wright Makes History

England ran out 1-0 winners against Scotland at Wembley in 1959, with Wolves great Billy Wright earning his 100th cap for the Three Lions.

In doing so, the England captain became the first player in world football to play 100 times for his country. 

1970 - FA Cup Final, Chelsea 2-2 Leeds

The 1970 FA Cup final was staged earlier than usual due to the Mexico World Cup that summer, with the FA wanting to give the England team time to acclimatise to the South American climate.

Mick Jones looked to have won it for Leeds when he pounced six minutes from time to give them a 2-1 lead. However, ​Chelsea equalised in the 88th minute through Ian Hutchinson, and the game finished 2-2 after extra time.

The cup was settled by a replay at Old Trafford two and a half weeks later, making it the first FA Cup final to go to a replay since 1912. Chelsea eventually triumphed, winning 2-1 in extra time.

2001 - Australia 31-0 American Samoa

Archie Thompson X

Australia made history in their qualifier for the 2002 World Cup, as they recorded the largest victory in a national football match with a 31-0 win over American Samoa. 

Striker Archie Thompson broke the record for the ​most amount of goals scored in an international match, as he found the net 13 times. In doing so, Thompson scored more goals in 90 minutes than he managed in three years with Gippsland Falcons in the National Soccer League.

2009 - Sunderland 1-2 Manchester United

Manchester United's Italian forward Fede

Six days on from hitting a stunning winner against Aston Villa on his ​Manchester United debut, Federico Macheda was the hero again, in slightly less spectacular style.

Paul Scholes' first half opener had been cancelled out by Kenwyne Jones, but 15 minutes from time and just six minutes after entering the fray, Macheda diverted Michael Carrick's effort into the net as United took another step towards the title.


Having scored twice in his first two Premier League appearances, Macheda would only score two more top flight goals over the next five years for United, as he was shipped out on loan on five occasions.

2017 - Juventus 3-0 Barcelona

Paulo Dybala,Mario Mandzukic

Two years on from being comfortably beaten by ​Barcelona in the Champions League final, ​Juventus all but booked their place in the semi finals of the 2017 competition with a thumping 3-0 victory over the very same opposition.

Paulo Dybala scored twice as Juventus ran riot, Barcelona looking a shadow of the side that had enjoyed such dominance in Europe. Juve went on to progress 3-0 on aggregate.

2018 - Real Madrid 1-3 Juventus

Contrasting fortunes for Juventus at the same stage the following year. Having lost 3-0 at home to ​Real Madrid in the first leg, they staged a remarkable comeback at the Bernabeu and appeared to have taken the game to extra time.

However, in the 90th minute, Medhi Benatia brought down Lucas Vazquez in the box, and Real were awarded a penalty. Gianluigi Buffon was furious, and was sent off by referee Michael Oliver for his aggressive protests.


​Cristiano Ronaldo converted the penalty in the 97th minute to send Real through, and post-match Buffon said of Oliver: "Clearly you cannot have a heart in your chest, but a bag of rubbish." Ouch.

2018 - Ruben Neves Scores Screamer, Wolves 2-0 Derby 

Ruben Neves

Ruben Neves scored the Championship goal of the season as Wolves edged closer to the Premier League with a 2-0 win over playoff-chasing Derby.

Neves flicked a loose ball up from a cleared corner, before sensationally volleying a fizzing, looping effort into the top corner. It wasn't the first time we'd seen such brilliance from the Portuguese maestro, and it certainly hasn't been the last.

Surely a bigger club than Wolves will come calling at some stage...


Source : 90min