The 1973 Intercontinental Cup was a football match played on 28 November 1973 between Juventus, runners-up of the 1972–73European Cup, and Independiente, winner of the 1973Copa Libertadores. The match was played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. It was Juventus' first appearance into the competition and Independiente's fourth appearance after the defeats against Internazionale in 1964 and 1965 and against Ajax in 1972. Despite initially refusing to participate in the competition,[1] Juventus replaced Ajax as representative UEFA team in the competition after Ajax as the European champions declined to contest a possible meeting in South America officially for financial reasons.[2] The Cup was played in a single match instead of a two-legged final as happened in the previous and following years until 1979.
During the match, dominated by the Italian team,[3] the Bianconeri had several opportunities to take the lead with two shots on the cross, a penalty kick, drawn by Cuccureddu, ended up over the bar and a shot in the last minutes of the race, which was blocked by the goalkeeper Santoro in daring action.[3] Ten minutes from the end, an own goal by Gentile in a Bochini's shot, the only significant offensive action made by Independiente in the match, was decisive for the victory of the Diablos Rojos ("Red Devils").[3]
