1955 Small Club World Cup

1955 Small Club World Cup
Tournament details
Host countryVenezuela
Dates7 July – 4 August
Teams4 (from 2 associations)
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions São Paulo (1st title)
Tournament statistics
Matches played12
Goals scored40 (3.33 per match)
Top scorer(s) Rubén Padín (6 goals)
1956

The 1955 Small Club World Cup was the fourth edition of the Small Club World Cup, a tournament held in Venezuela between 1952 and 1957, in certain years between 1963 and 1970, and in 1975. It was played by four participants, half from Europe and half from South America in double round robin format and featured players like Mario Coluna, José Águas, goalkeeper Costa Pereira for Benfica, Dino Sani, Nílton de Sordi for Sao Paulo,[1] Dutch Faas Wilkes and Pasieguito for Valencia.

As Milan and Real Madrid declined to participate,[2] they were replaced by Spanish club Valencia and local team La Salle. On the other hand, Brazilian club São Paulo's participation was part of a tour that also included Colombia and Mexico, while Valencia became the third Spanish team to visit Venezuela, after Real Madrid and Barcelona.[3]

The tournament was organised by Spanish entrepreneurs Damián Gaubeka and Pedro Reyes, and named "Copa General de Brigada Marcos Pérez Jiménez" by the press, which never mentioned it as "Pequeña Copa del Mundo". Argentine striker Rubén Padín of La Salle (who had been loaned from Cúcuta Deportivo to play this tournament exclusively) was the topscorer with 6 goals.[3]

Participants

Team Qualification
Benfica Champions of 1954–55 Primeira Divisão
Valencia 5th. in 1954–55 La Liga
São Paulo 4th. in 1954 Campeonato Paulista
La Salle Champions of Venezuelan Primera División

Matches

Valencia 4–3 Benfica
Buqué 3'
Pasieguito 43'
Wilkes 52'
Fuertes 69'
Report Arsénio 30'
Águas 46', 80'
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Benito Jackson (Venezuela)

La Salle 4–1 São Paulo
Alfredo 11' (o.g.)
Padín 31', 33', 56'
Report Paraíba 43'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Dellow (England)

La Salle 1–1 Valencia
Padín 35' Report Mañó 58'
Referee: Dellow (England)

Benfica 0–0 São Paulo
Report
Referee: Héctor Osorio (Venezuela)

La Salle 1–4 Benfica
Padín 25' Report Arsénio 60'
Salvador 66'
Chano 65' (o.g.)
Calado 81'
Referee: Dellow (England)

São Paulo 2–0 Valencia
Dino Sani 5'
Gino 70'
Report
Referee: Benito Jackson (Venezuela)

São Paulo 4–2 Benfica
Dino Sani 23', 50'
Maurinho 55'
Teixeirinha 83'
Report Salvador 62'
Caiado 87'
Referee: Teo Hernández (Venezuela)

La Salle 0–4 Valencia
Report Fuertes 2'
Vila 9'
Seguí 55', 85'
Referee: Dellow (England)

La Salle 1–3 São Paulo
Padín 87' Report Lanzoninho 40'
Gino 57'
Dino Sani 62'
Referee: Dellow (England)

Benfica 2–1 Valencia
Águas 11', 70' Report Pasieguito 32'
Referee: Héctor Osorio (Venezuela)

La Salle 0–0 Benfica
Report
Referee: Dellow (England)

São Paulo 1–1 Valencia
Lanzoninho 18' Report Mañó 50'
Referee: Benito Jackson (Venezuela)

Final standings

Team[4] Pts P W D L GF GA GD
São Paulo 7 6 3 2 1 11 8 3
6 6 2 2 2 11 9 2
6 6 2 2 2 11 10 1
4 6 1 2 3 7 13 -6

Topscorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1
Rubén Padín La Salle
6
2
Dino Sani São Paulo
4

Champion

1955 Small Club World Cup

São Paulo
1st. title

References

  1. ^ "A conquista da Pequena Copa do Mundo de 1955". São Paulo FC (in Portuguese). 4 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  2. ^ [1] on Mundo Deportivo, 24 Apr 1955
  3. ^ a b 1955: 4ta. Pequeña Copa del Mundo by Elizier Pérez on Fútbol de Venezuela (archived, 8 Dec 2013)
  4. ^ Pequeña Copa del Mundo 1955 on the RSSSF