In the late
70's the Intercontinental Cup was dying a death. Blighted by violent clashes,
European sides who valued the competition less than their South American
counterparts decided that it was just not worth taking part
Ajax were the first team to refuse to participate in 1971, with the European Cup runners-up taking their place. Although Ajax officially
cited financial reasons for their withdrawal, there was no disguising that the
violence on the field during these games was the real reason behind their
withdrawal.
Other European sides had the same opinion, it got so bad that in 1975 and
1978 there were no games played as even the European Cup runners up refused to
take the place of the Champions. The format of the competition needed to
change, so it was decided to make the fixture a one off game, played in a neutral
venue. Japan was chosen as the venue, with Japanese car manufacturer Toyota
sponsoring the match.
It proved to be an extremely successful decision, one that saved the competition. The format continued for over 20 years, until being replaced by the Club World Cup. The very first match in Tokyo saw Nacional of Uruguay take on England's Nottingham Forest.
It was a golden era for English sides in Europe, Forest's 1v0 win over Hamburg ensured that they retained the trophy, having won it the year before, ensuring the European Cup stayed in England for a 4th consecutive year.
But Forest were not a traditional giant in English Football, they were a team that were on the crest of wave that had taken them from the 2nd tier of English Football to the best side in Europe in a matter of 5 years. Much of the credit has been laid at the feet of Manager Brian Clough, the charismatic genius who masterminded their rise to glory.
Clough arrived at Forest who were a second tier side back in 1975 and by 1977 had led Forest to promotion to the First Division. Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor had brought in talent such as Peter Shilton, one of Europe's best Goalkeepers to complement existing talent such as John Robertson. Even so, no-one could have predicted the success that Forest were about to embark upon, winning the League Title in their first season back in the top flight.
The excitement of qualifying for the European Cup the following season was dampened when they were paired with domestic rivals Liverpool, who were bidding to win the trophy for a third consecutive season. But Forest ended the reign of Liverpool 2v0 on aggregate and
went on to win the European Cup in their first season in the tournament.
Like many of their fellow European Cup winners around that time, Forest declined to accept the invitation to take part in the Intercontinental Cup, but after retaining the European Cup the following year, they accepted their invite to take part in the new look Toyota Cup.
Their opponents, Nacional of Uruguay also had a dramatic turn in fortunes led by a new Managerial team, although unlike Forest, Nacional were a sleeping giant. The late part of the 1970s had been a frustrating period for Nacional, but the appointment of Juan Martin Mujica as Manager, along with trainer Esteban Gesto led to an upturn in fortunes.
The duo immediately installed a new mentality to the side, promoting hard work and an ethos that everyone had to do their role, or they were banished from the side. It would be the start of a golden period for Nacional and also for striker Waldemar Victorinho.
Victorinho's career was unremarkable before this period and as quickly as his career took off it nosedived again into obscurity, but for a brief period the striker had a habit of scoring goals in big games.
Victorinho only scored 11 goals in 19 appearances for Nacional, but among them was the winner in the Copa Libertadores Final and the winner in the Tokyo that would crown Nacional as World Champions. He replicated this midas touch for his country in the Mundalito Tournament, which was a one off tournament in 1980 played between all the previous World Cup winners (except England who refused to take part). Victorinho scored in every game for Uruguay, including the winner against Brazil in the Final.
Tokyo Japan - Nacional 1v0 Nottingham Forest
The match against Forest was a close affair, decided by an early strike by that man Victorinho, although Forest were on top for most of the match. The English side started well and defender Viv Anderson had an opportunity after just 2mins, but blazed well over from the edge of the area. Forest continued to make the early opportunities, but were hit by a sucker punch on 10mins. Victorinho nipped in front of Burns to collect a cross from the right wing and from close range smashed the ball past Shilton to open the scoring.
Burns almost made amends straight away with a long range effort and Wallace could only find the side netting after good work from Trevor Francis as Forest went in search of a quick equaliser. Despite dominating the match, Forest could have easily found themselves further behind when after a defensive mix up from the English side, Nacional found the net again, only for the Referee to rule the goal out, much to Forest's relief.
Forest were left to rue squandering their early opportunities, as Nacional
tightened up and concentrated on closing down their opponents, denying them
opportunities on goal. There was little threat from Nacional, but at this stage
their ambitions seemed to be to hold onto their one goal lead.
Again, Forest almost gifted their opponents second goal, in the 2nd
half a poor backpass was latched on and converted, only for the Referee to
again come to the rescue as the goal was chalked off.
Despite dominating possession Forest found chances on goal hard to come by, with O' Neill getting an effort in after a weaving run, one of the few efforts on goal.
On 74mins Nacional survived a scare when Stuart Gray crashed a header onto
the bar with the Keeper stranded. Forest continued to press for the equaliser,
but Nacional held firm to record a historic victory.
