Scotland v Peru (1978)

Scotland v Peru (1978) was a game played between two nations in Group D of the 1978 FIFA World Cup held in Argentina.

Background

The Scotland team had qualified for the World Cup Finals for the second time in succession; once again the sole representatives from the United Kingdom. Scotland had done well to qualify from a group containing the 1976 European Football Championship winners Czechoslovakia and Wales. The Scotland manager Ally McLeod, whose managerial career had not been outstanding, had outlandishly but successfully talked up the team’s chances, capturing an outgrowth of public confidence which welcomed success after years of under-achievement, to the extent that tens of thousands of the famous Tartan Army had seen the team off in a farewell parade at Hampden Park.

That Scotland had strength in talent was indisputable. They had been fairly successful on a South American tour in 1977 (drawing with the Argentininans at the Bomboneira), and their squad contained exceptional players. Midfielder Kenny Burns had been named the English League’s Player of the Year, John Robertson, a fellow club-mate at Nottingham Forest was a highly regarded winger. Liverpool, European Champions for the second year running, provided both Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish. In midfield McLeod had a fair pick of Asa Hartford, Don Masson. Bruce Rioch, Archie Gemmill. Derek Johnstone had scored 40 goals at Glasgow Rangers that season. From Manchester United, McLeod selected Joe Jordan and, club captain, Martin Buchan. But McLeod had disadvantaged himself failing to select Andy Gray (Aston Villa’s 29-goal forward) yet permitting Gordon McQueen to join the squad, despite being injured.

In his book ‘Behind the Dream’ Jordan wrote (p. 161): “that great welling of national passion was extraordinary to see and you had to wonder what bed Ally was making for himself by saying that we were going to win the World Cup, especially when you thought of all the European teams who had gone to South America without success”.

Scotland arrived at an inferior training ground Alta Gracia and played their first match against Peru. Despite having Andy Roxburgh as a technical officer, McLeod had failed to take into consideration the strengths of the opposition, particularly those of Oblitas and Munante, chosing to play Buchan in the role previously filled by the suspended Donachie and to leave Souness on the bench.

The game

Scotland appeared to be on course when after 14 minutes Jordan snapped up a chance from Quiroga’s parry after Rioch had shot on the edge of the area. The opportunity to extend this lead however did not arise as Peru came more into the game. On the stroke of half-time, Cubillas passed to Cueto who equalised beyond Alan Rough.

Just after the hour mark, Scotland had a great chance to regain their lead. Rioch had been fouled and Don Masson, whose penalty against Wales in the final qualifying match had secured Scotland’s place in Argentina, placed the ball on the spot. His shot, to Quiroga’s left, was tame and waist high and was easily diverted away by the Peruvian goalkeeper. Peru needed no further invitation to take control and in the 72nd minute Peru, awarded a free-kick to the right of the area, took the lead when Cubillas stroked a wonderful shot with the outside of his right foot past Alan Rough. Five minutes later, Cubillas extended the lead, rifling a shot to Rough’s right from just outside the box.

The defeat was traumatic, made more so by Willie Johnston’s negative drug test after the game.

Match details

Chateau Carreras, Córdoba, 3 June 1978Attendance: 37,927 spectators
Referee: Eriksson (Sweden) flagicon|SWE
Assistant Referee: Franco (Spain) flagicon|ESP
Assistant Referee: Tesfaye (Ethiopia) flagicon|ETH

Scorers:
"Scotland:" 1: 14' Joe Jordan 1-0
"Peru" 3: 43' Cesar Cueto 1-1, 72' Teofilio Cubillas 1-2, 77' Teofilio Cubillas 1-3

Scotland:
Alan Rough (Partick Thistle) - Kenny Burns (Nottingham Forest}, Stuart Kennedy (Aberdeen) (c), Martin Buchan (Manchester United), Tom Forsyth (Glasgow Rangers}, Bruce Rioch (Derby County) [(sub 76 mins.) Archie Gemmill (Nottingham Forest)] - Don Masson (Derby County), [(sub 76 mins.) Lou Macari (Manchester United)] , Asa Hartford (Manchester City}, Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool}, Joe Jordan (Manchester United), Willie Johnston (West Bromwich Albion}Coach: Ally McLeod

Peru:
Ramon Quiroga (Sporting Cristal), Jaime Duarte (Alianza Lima), Radolfo Manzo (Deportivo Municipal), Hector Chumpitaz (Sporting Cristal) (c), Ruben Diaz ] (Sporting Cristal), Jose Velasquez (Alianza Lima), Cesar Cueto (Alianza Lima) [(sub (83 mins.) Percy Rojas (Sporting Cristal)] , Teofilio Cubillas (Alianza Lima), Juan Munante (Pumas), Guillermo La Rosa (Alianza Lima) [sub. (63 mins.) Hugo Sotil (Alianza Lima)] , Juan Oblitas (Sporting Cristal)Coach: Marcos Medrano