Gatt, Vella and Magro recall Malta's Greek miracle

Maltese fans of a certain vintage will always remember 23 February 1975. On that day, the national team unexpectedly beat Greece 2-0 in a UEFA European Championship qualifier at the Empire Stadium in Gzira – famous for its rubble pitch, since there were no grass surfaces in Malta at the time.

Defeated 1-0 by West Germany on the same field earlier in the campaign, Terenzio Polverini's Malta battled heroically to see off a Greece side featuring goalkeeper Vasilis Kostantinou and captain Mimis Domazos – both of whom had played for Panathinaikos FC in the 1971 European Champion Clubs' Cup final. The late Richard Aquilina (33 minutes) and Vince 'Maxi' Magro (70) scored the goals, while debutant Robert Gatt withstood an onslaught in goal. Magro, Gatt and Malta defender Eddie Vella relive that golden day with UEFA.com.

Vincent Magro: The crowd would not stop applauding after the game. They kept on and on, even after we had saluted our supporters and made our way to the dressing room. Everyone knew it was a shock result. Greece were favourites to qualify.

Eddie Vella: For the first time ever, the Malta Football Association (MFA) took the squad to a hotel before the game – it was lovely being together. Training under Terenzio Polverini was the best. I still remember Polverini told me during one of the sessions that nothing was going to stop him getting the better of his Greek counterpart Alketas Panagoulias. Polverini had guts. He got us motivated, for this match and for all his games as Malta coach.

Vella, Gatt and Magro today©Domenic Aquilina

Robert Gatt: We were all really up for it. Greece had just drawn with West Germany who were world champions. It was my first international but I wasn't excited or nervous – just very focused.

Vella: I was left-back, No3. I had to mark their captain Mimis Domazos – quite a task! I was involved in both goals. A quick throw-in completely outfoxed the Greek defence and allowed me to send Ritchie Aquilina through, and his effort caught the Greek keeper off his line for our first. I sparked the second one too. I came out of our box and found Carlo Seychell in midfield. He then fed Vince Magro.

Magro: Polverini had told me before the game to try and lob the Greek keeper because he knew he came off his line a lot, and that is how I scored – a neat lob from the left flank, not my favourite side.

Gatt: After we scored the first, Greece put us under a lot of pressure. Then after our second, the pressure intensified and during the closing stages the Greeks piled on attack after attack, but I made some saves and thanks to a great defensive display from the whole team, we survived.

Magro: I still have vivid memories of captain Willie Vassallo – head bandaged, blood spilling all over his face – wanting to go on until the final whistle, which he did. But the only memento I have of that day is the shirt of the Greek player I swapped with at the final whistle. My boots? Times have changed: in those days we had to give our boots back to the association after the game. I used to share mine with team-mate Ronnie Cocks as we wore the same size.