Sometimes great games are decided by great players, this was perfectly illustrated in the 1998 Toyota Cup where a piece of individual brilliance proved decisive in a well contested encounter.
Vasco had qualified for the right to become World Champions after winning the 1998 Copa Libertadores, their first success in the competition. After winning the Brazilian Championship, Vasco embarked on their own "Projeto Toquio" (Project Tokyo), a mission that was backed up by an investment of $10 Million, back then a significant sum for a Brazilian Club side. That investment was rewarded when the Rio de Janeiro side beat Ecuador's Barcelona home and away in the Copa Libertadores.
The Vasco side was a tight knit group, led by Manager Antonio Lopez, who had built a side who were all pulling in the same direction and were up against a massive Club from Europe, but one that had a recent history of under performing until now.
Their opponents were one of Europe's biggest sides, if not the biggest, Real Madrid had won the European Cup more than any other prior to the 1998 season, yet had not won the big trophy in 32 years, a remarkable statistic for such a great Club. That run was ended as they beat Juventus 1v0 in the Champions League final, their Italian opponents at the time were widely considered Europe's top side.
Despite winning the Champions League, this was not a vintage Real Madrid side. Madrid finished 4th in their domestic League and Manager Jupp Heynckes had been sacked, 5 days after his Champions League triumph, and Madrid's defence of their Champions League Title would be a disappointing one, ending in a defeat at the Quarter Final stage.
Madrid would soon change their team building strategy and embark on a phase of accumulating a collection of the World's greatest players (Galacticos), 2 of which were already in the side in 1998, in the form of Roberto Carlos and Raul, both of whom would shine of the Tokyo stage.
Vasco did everything they could to prepare for the big match, arriving in a cold Tokyo 15 days before the match, well before their Spanish opponents, but the opening exchanges left no doubt that Madrid were eager to win as both sides worked hard to close each other down early on.
There was action at both ends and an early goal looked inevitable, and it fell to Madrid as Vasco's Midfield 'Nasa' inexplicably diverted a well struck Roberto Carlos cross into his own net. Chances continued to come at both ends, but it wasn't until the second half that the next goal would come, and it fell to Vasco to even up the scores.
But with just 7mins remaining, Madrid legend Raul would produce moment of magic to settle the match. Collecting a long ball from Seedorf, Raul brilliantly turned his marker and with ice cold nerves drifted past another Vasco player before slotting the ball into the Vasco net,
Following the match Vasco stated their determination to return to Tokyo, but to date have failed to record a second Copa Libertadores. Both sides had an opportunity at winning the Club World Championship in 2000, Madrid narrowly failed to make the Final on goal difference despite finishing unbeaten, while boosted by home advantage, Vasco made the final, but again suffered heartbreak as they lost on penalties to Corinthians.
Vasco had qualified for the right to become World Champions after winning the 1998 Copa Libertadores, their first success in the competition. After winning the Brazilian Championship, Vasco embarked on their own "Projeto Toquio" (Project Tokyo), a mission that was backed up by an investment of $10 Million, back then a significant sum for a Brazilian Club side. That investment was rewarded when the Rio de Janeiro side beat Ecuador's Barcelona home and away in the Copa Libertadores.
It seemed Vasco's desire to win the Toyota Cup was matched by their bitter rivals Flamengo's desire to see them lose. Flamengo had bragging rights over their rivals in this competition, having won the Title back in 1981 and were keen on maintaining their status, fuelled by the fact that upon winning the Copa, Vasco's victory parade route took them right past Flamengo's Headquarters, something that was not lost on Flamengo fans.
The Vasco side was a tight knit group, led by Manager Antonio Lopez, who had built a side who were all pulling in the same direction and were up against a massive Club from Europe, but one that had a recent history of under performing until now.
Their opponents were one of Europe's biggest sides, if not the biggest, Real Madrid had won the European Cup more than any other prior to the 1998 season, yet had not won the big trophy in 32 years, a remarkable statistic for such a great Club. That run was ended as they beat Juventus 1v0 in the Champions League final, their Italian opponents at the time were widely considered Europe's top side.
Despite winning the Champions League, this was not a vintage Real Madrid side. Madrid finished 4th in their domestic League and Manager Jupp Heynckes had been sacked, 5 days after his Champions League triumph, and Madrid's defence of their Champions League Title would be a disappointing one, ending in a defeat at the Quarter Final stage.
Madrid would soon change their team building strategy and embark on a phase of accumulating a collection of the World's greatest players (Galacticos), 2 of which were already in the side in 1998, in the form of Roberto Carlos and Raul, both of whom would shine of the Tokyo stage.
Vasco did everything they could to prepare for the big match, arriving in a cold Tokyo 15 days before the match, well before their Spanish opponents, but the opening exchanges left no doubt that Madrid were eager to win as both sides worked hard to close each other down early on.
There was action at both ends and an early goal looked inevitable, and it fell to Madrid as Vasco's Midfield 'Nasa' inexplicably diverted a well struck Roberto Carlos cross into his own net. Chances continued to come at both ends, but it wasn't until the second half that the next goal would come, and it fell to Vasco to even up the scores.
It came after a series of frantic play in the Madrid box, Ilgner in the Madrid goal made a good stop, but the rebound fell to Juninho, who produced a neat piece of control before smashing the ball into the Madrid net.
Roberto Carlos was having good game bombing forward for Madrid, but showed his defensive value with a goal-line clearance for Madrid, as Vasco looked for a goal that would put them ahead in the tie. Again there were chances for both sides, but as the game was in its latter stages, it was the Brazilian side that looked most likely to get the winner.
But with just 7mins remaining, Madrid legend Raul would produce moment of magic to settle the match. Collecting a long ball from Seedorf, Raul brilliantly turned his marker and with ice cold nerves drifted past another Vasco player before slotting the ball into the Vasco net,
Even many years later Raul would pick his strike in Tokyo amongst the hundreds he had scored as the most important one he had ever scored. Madrid were not the only side celebrating the Spanish sides victory in Tokyo, back in Rio, Flamengo fans celebrated in the streets, not forgetting the way Vasco celebrated their Copa Libertadores triumph, with Flamengo's President taking it one step further by celebrating Vasco's defeat by taking out a one page advert in National newspapers, a move that did not help hostility between the 2 sides.
Following the match Vasco stated their determination to return to Tokyo, but to date have failed to record a second Copa Libertadores. Both sides had an opportunity at winning the Club World Championship in 2000, Madrid narrowly failed to make the Final on goal difference despite finishing unbeaten, while boosted by home advantage, Vasco made the final, but again suffered heartbreak as they lost on penalties to Corinthians.
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