Estadio Azteca 1970: The Match of the Century ​On 17 June 1970, 102,444 spectators packed Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca for the 1970 FIFA World Cup semifinal between Ferruccio Valcareggi’s Italy and Helmut Schön’s West Germany. A 1–1 stalemate across 90 minutes detonated into an unprecedented five-goal extra-time shootout, finishing in a 4–3 victory for the Azzurri in what FIFA and global football history commemorate as the Partita del Secolo. ​Roberto Boninsegna & The Italian Blitz Roberto Boninsegna opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a crisp left-footed strike from distance after exchanging passes with Gigi Riva. For over 80 minutes, Enrico Albertosi and Italy’s catenaccio backline absorbed wave after wave of German pressure. Boninsegna’s afternoon concluded with 1 goal, 1 match-winning assist, 120 minutes played, serving as Italy's primary focal point in attack alongside Riva. ​Karl-Heinz Schnellinger & Gerd Müller: The German Resurgence West Germany broke Italian resistance i...