14-08-81: Barcelona SC Ecaudor (a) 1-1 (Abandoned in extra-time. Leeds awarded game.) (HT 0-0) Crowd (6,000)

Programme:

Byron Stevenson replaced Right Back Brian Greenhoff, Alex Sabella replaced Carl Harris at Outside Right, Terry Connor scored after he replaced Centre Forward Derek Parlane and Neil Firm came on for Right Half Brian Flynn. Aleidas scored the Barcelona goal. The game was played at Varsity Stadium, Toronto.

Comment on the game and Tournament by Barry Foster: Courtesy Mark Ledgard

Clarke defends touring

As the dust was still settling on the chaos surrounding Leeds United's qualification for tonight's Toronto International tournament, their Manager Allan Clarkedefended his decision of preparing overseas for the new season. He forecast that Leeds would benefit from their start to the tune of qualifying for Europe this term. His enthuisiasm for the travelling prologue to the season was unwavering despite the batch of bookings and three sendings off incurred."I have no regrets at all" said Clarke. "It has all been worthwhile not only for building up the players fitness but in giving them valuable experience of playing abroad. The bookings and sending off naturally concern me. Anyone stepping out of line will be severely dealt with. Paul Hart will be hammered with a fine for getting sent off. If I had been in Spain when Arthur Graham and Derek Parlane were sent off I would have hammered them too. It is difficult to pass judgement when you have not been at the match. Though refereeing standards and interpretationsabroad can differ so much from our own I am a firm believerin playing pre-season games abroad. The players enjoy the change of scenery and with no home-based clubs watching we can try out a few things without giving away secrets. We could play clubs from lower divisions in England but that would prove nothing. I am convinced now that with the quality players we now have at the club we will finish high enough to qualify for Europe." Leeds, meanwhile, are convinced the disciplinary measures against them in their four country run-into the new season will not count against their players at home. But Hart misses the final against the Portugese champions Benfica. He was a casualty of an extra-ordinary introduction to the North American soccer for Leeds- their Semi-Final with Barcelona of Ecaudor eventually decided by the local referees association. The playing action ended in uproar deep into extra-time when the referee, Gordon Arrowsmith, a Toronto policeman, was felled by a kick when mobbed by South American players and officials. The game stood at 1-1 and the referee, after abandoning it, said it was up to the organisers to decide the winners. But the referee-in-cief of the National Soccer League, Larry Maccarato of Toronto, said "Leeds are not the guilty party, therefore by the book Leeds should go through to the final." The 6,000 spectators, who included at least three supporters who had paid £300 to fly from Yorkshire for the game, nevertheless could not complain about entertainment value. The game started in thunder and lightning and ended in a storm as South American players and officials claimed a penalty should have been awarded as the game reached the final moments of extra-time when Garces went down as Cherry cleanly won the ball. The referee was unimpressed by the claims but a pitch invasion by Barcelona officials brought chaos. Garces aimed a kick at the referee who made straight for the dressing rooms, when he regained his feet. It was the final twist in a game that had moved from the absorbing to the absurd. First Hart had been sent off just before the interval for striking an opponent. Barcelona went ahead through Alcedes before Leeds found the kind of resiliencethey can use to great effect in the new season to equalise through Connor. Anything seemed possible in a game where Barcelona players who had been substituted were allowed back into action. Once Clarke had taken his men to the dressing rooms and their showers after the referee had called off the game he was not willing to bring them back. It took the tournament organisers thirty-five minutes to come up with an announcement which ended the hopes of more action and then a further long conferenceto determine the winners. Clarke felt sorry for the organisers and offered to return for a penalty decider with Barcelona before the semi-final between Toronto (Italy) and Benfica but Leeds were awarded the tie. There was no sympathy for the South American who injured the referee. "That lad should not play professional football again, " said Clarke.