The match, won by Alumni 1–0 with a goal by Alfredo Brown, is notable for having been the first victory of an Argentine football team over a British-related side.[2][3] Alumni was also the only South American team that could defeat the British side, which won 11 out of 12 matches played.[1]
Sociedad Sportiva had also hosted football matches in 1905 when another English team, Nottingham Forest, toured Argentina to play a series of friendly matches. On August 15, 1905, the Argentina and Uruguay national teams played the first edition of Copa Lipton at SSA.
British teams were considered the best in the world by then, and some of them served as inspiration to establish football clubs in Argentina and Uruguay, helped by the immigration of British citizens that had arrived to work for British companies (mostly in railway construction). Belgrano A.C., Rosario A.C., Alumni, and Quilmes (in Argentina) were some examples of clubs established by British immigrants to South America.[6][7]
In some cases, the influence of British clubs on Argentine football extended to the colours adopted by some clubs. Arístides Langone, president of Club Atlético Independiente, was so impressed by the Nottingham Forest squad that beat local Alumni by 6–0 that he suggested to change the jersey colours from white and blue to red. The request was approved and Independiente adopted the colour that would later become an identity mark for the club, being known as El Rojo (The Red).[8]
Southampton F.C. had been the first foreign club to tour South America, followed by Nottingham Forest F.C. in 1905. One of its games, against Alumni in Buenos Aires, was attended by 10,000 spectators, what proves the interest of Argentine fans to see the local forces facing British sides, considered technically superior by them.[9]
Cartoon depicting the Alumni team with the title "Those who defeated South Africa" published in Caras y Caretas magazine
Medal awarded to Alumni players after the match
For our national football, the Alumni vs Sudaprica match constitutes a triumph and its memory will remain for a long time in the memory of all, serving as an example and stimulus for the future
The victory over South Africa, considered the first significative win of an Argentine team,[3] was largely celebrated by fans and media in Argentina and helped local football to increase interest for a sport which was still under development.[2][12]
At the moment of the match, Alumni was the most successful team in Argentina, with a total of 8 titles won by then. The club had consolidated as a natural successor to Lomas A.C. (the most winning team in the XIX century with 5 championships won within 6 seasons[13] and considered the first big of Argentine football),[14][15] and would keep their status until the team retired from competitions in 1911.[16][11][17][18][19]
The Alumni's win gained more relevance for the fact that South Africa played a total of 12 matches in South America, winning 11 with 60 goals scored and only 7 conceded.[20] being Alumni the only team that could beat them. Nevertheless, the South Africans would take revenge on 22 July, defeating Alumni 2–0.[6][1]
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