Elche thwart Basque Cup final with Athletic after Bernabéu replay in 1969 | OneFootball

Elche denied an all-Basque Copa final with Athletic in 1969, overcoming Real Sociedad 2-0 in a Bernabéu replay after La Real had overturned a 3-0 first-leg loss.

Diario Vasco reports that La Real, promoted in Puertollano two years earlier under Andoni Elizondo, carried the momentum of a young squad. They finished the 1968/69 league season seventh, two points off Europe, and their Cup run featured a 5-1 first-leg win over Barcelona and the elimination of Atlético, 1-2 away then 1-1 at home.

The semi-final opened in Elche on Sunday one June in fierce heat on a parched, narrow pitch that favoured long throws from Asensi. Casco struck on seven minutes, Curro added another before the break while La Real were down to 10 after Lema’s injury, and Casco made it 3-0 after half-time. Gaztelu and Gorriti both hit the woodwork.

A packed Atocha roared on the return on Saturday seven June at 8.30pm, despite key absences for José Mari Martínez and Boronat. Urreisti put La Real ahead after Blas parried Urtiaga, but a mix-up between Gorriti and Esnaola gifted Casco the equaliser. Silvestre converted a 66-minute penalty, Urtiaga bent in a free-kick on 83, and Silvestre levelled the tie 4-1 on 86, prompting a replay three days later before 80,000 in Madrid.

La Real started brighter in the decider and forced several saves from Josetxo Araquistain. On 40 minutes referee Tejerina dismissed Santamaría after a collision with Asensi, and with one fewer, and the Atocha exertions still biting, they conceded to Casco and Asensi. The Basque final would wait 52 years, until Real beat Athletic at La Cartuja with an Oyarzabal penalty five years ago.

Source: Diario Vasco