1997 Toyota Cup - Borussia Dortmund v Cruzeiro

Tokyo, Japan - Borussia Dortmund 2v0 Cruzeiro

In 1997 it was guaranteed that a new Club would win the right to call themselves World Champions after Borussia Dortmund conquered Europe for the first time in their history.
For their opponents Cruzeiro, it was a second shot at German opposition, after defeat v Bayern Munich following Cruzeiro's only previous Copa Libertadores triumph in 1976.

Borussia Dortmund were surprise winners, seeing off World and European Champions Juventus 3v1 in the Final, no mean feat against an Italian side boasting the likes of Zidane, Deschamps and Del Piero.
But Dortmund's rise to glory had been slow and steady, under Legendary Manager Ottmar Hitzfeld who led the side from mid table in 1991, attracting some big names to the club, such as Paulo Sousa, Karl-Heinze Riedle, Matthias Sammer and Andreas Moller.

Silverware had started to adorn the Dortmund Trophy Room, winning the Bundesliga in 95 and 96, with Sammer named European Footballer of the Year.
But unfortunately there would be no prolonged period of domination for this Dortmund side.
Of the players who played v Juventus, 7 would leave within a year, including Sousa and Riedle, with Sammer suffering a career ending injury soon after the final, leading to his eventual retirement.
After the Final Hitzfeld was moved to a Sporting Director Role, later to take up Managerial duties at Bayern Munich and his replacement Nevio Scala was a disaster, as Dortmund finished 10th in the Bundesliga, months after becoming World Champions in Tokyo, taking the Club until 2002 to win another German Title.

Their opponents, Cruzeiro were also unlikely Continental Champions, having lost all 3 of their first 3 matches in the Copa Libertadores.
After a strong recovery in the Group stage they were again unconvincing in the knockout stages, before seeing off surprise finalists Peru's Sporting Cristal in the Final.
Controversially Cruzeiro recruited Brazilian Internationals, Bebeto, Donizete and Goncalves to their side to appear for the Brazilian side for one game only.

Bolstered by their new additions, Cruzeiro started the game strongly, and Dortmund Keeper Klos had to make 2 good saves early on as Cruzeiro's quick skillful attacking play had the German side under pressure early on.
In an open start to the game, Moller had a free-kick well saved at the other end by Dida, but it was Cruzeiro who looked the better side in the early stages as Donizete teased the Dortmund defence, before unleashing a shot kept out by the legs of Klos.
But the flow of the game was interrupted by several niggly fouls, and this seemed to suit the German side better as they started to come into the game more.
Dortmund took the lead on 34 mins through the oldest player on the pitch, Michale Zorc. Cruzeiro were caught out by a quickly taken free-kick and Chapuisat's cross fell invitingly for the veteran midfielder who made no mistake,
Chapuisat almost got on the scoresheet himself, shortly before half time only for Dida to keep out his headed effort.

The 2nd half took on a similar look to the 1st half, with Cruzeiro again starting strong, but Dortmund were proving to be difficult to break down, with Julio Cesar, in particular having a great game in defence.
Cruzeiro were threatening, with Sousa blocking a Palacios effort and Klos having to stop a goalbound effort from one of his own players, as a cross was inadvertently diverted towards the Dortmund goal.
But once again, Dortmund survived the early storm and came back into the game. After 66mins Dortmund's  task of holding onto their lead was made easier when Vitor was sent off after picking up 2 yellow cards, the second of which was a needless foul by the corner flag.
To their credit Cruzeiro still managed a period of pressure, but with a man disadvantage large gaps were appearing in the Cruzeiro defence, and Dida was forced into 2 good stops for Cruzeiro to keep his side in the game.
But in the closing stages Cruzeiro were finished off by a second Dortmund goal when Sousa cut out a Cruzeiro counter attack and played in Herrlich, who expertly guided the ball into the net.
It would be  glorious night for the Dortmund as they would be about to embark on a difficult period ahead of them.

1968 Intercontinental Cup - Estudiantes v Manchester United

If anyone was under the impression that the violent clashes during the 1967 Intercontinental Cup was a one off incident, they were about to be proved very mistaken, with Estudiantes, one of history's dirtiest sides about to embark on a period of domination in South America.
They would go on to win 3 consecutive Copa Libertadores Titles, but along with the glory were accusations of brutality and 'anti-football'.
The side had been transformed by Coach Osvaldo Zubeldía from a side fighting relegation to World Champions, by developing a side mostly from their Under 19 side nicknamed "The Killer Juveniles".
Zubeldia was one of the first Managers to thoroughly research an opponents playing style and tactics, including stopping opponents from playing using unsportsmanlike tactics, for example opponents complained of being pricked with needles.

For their opponents, Manchester United, winning the European Cup was an achievement made all the more remarkable considering what had happened 10 years earlier. On the way home from a successful European Cup Quarter Final match, United's plane crashed, killing 8 of a talented young side that was tipped to rule Europe, with 2 more players never playing again.
Among the survivors Matt Busby and Bobby Charlton were part of a rebuilt side that conquered Europe, which boasted legends such as the supremely talented George Best and 'King' of Old Trafford Denis Law.

1st Leg - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Estudiantes 1v0 Manchester United

Much like the previous years clash the 1968 Intercontinental clash was a brutal affair, which would be remembered more for its unsportsmanlike conduct than for footballing reasons.
United received a warm welcome to Argentina with parties and a polo match arranged in their honour, although the Estudiantes side did not turn up for an official reception, which angered United Manager Matt Busby.
There was no such warm welcome inside the ground, there was little support for United, with even the touring Welsh Rugby side advised to stay away from the match.
Before the match Nobby Stiles had been the subject of much attention, with the midfielder labelled a "bad sportsman" and "brutal in search of the man" in the official match programme.
There were 2,000 police at the ground, but the trouble occurred on the pitch as the visiting side was subject to brutal tactics from the Argentine side, whose game plan were designed to stop the English side from playing.
The Estudiantes crowd threw a bag of meat at Stiles prior to the game, however that would pale in comparison to the treatment from his on field opponents. After just 4 mins Bilardo came through Stiles with a late tackle. Stiles retaliated but there was more to come as he was spat and headbutted by Bilardo, with Stiles later admitting he played most of the game with double vision due to the treatment dished out by the Estudiantes player.
It wasn't just Stiles that was targeted, Denis Law complained about having his hair pulled and being pinched.
Manchester United soon realised there was no way the Argentine side were going to let you go past them, stopping you with a body check or if needed, a more brutal foul.
Estudiantes got the result they wanted thanks to a header from Conigliaro, rising to head home from a corner after 28mins.
United thought they had equalised 10mins later when Sadler put the ball in the net after a through ball from Bobby Charlton, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside, a decision that Charlton furiously disagreed with.
To add insult to injury Nobby Stiles was set off late on after receiving his 2nd yellow card of the evening, just for flinging an arm in the air in disapproval after being flagged offside.
The experience left a sour taste in the mouths of the visiting Manchester United players. George Best said "50-50 balls I didn't bother with, I just stood out of the way. We should never come here again, it was ridiculous."
Pat Crerand had similar views, "It wasn't a game of football at all. They didn't try to play football. If it had been a better pitch we would have beaten them. It was a waste of time coming here".

2nd Leg - Manchester, England - Manchester United 1v1 Estudiantes (Estudiantes win 2v1 on aggregate)

On home soil the European Champions were determined to level the scores with a win and force a play off in Amsterdam and started the game strongly, although there was an early indication that Estudiantes would defend their lead by fair means or foul as Best was fouled well off the ball in the early stages.

But Estudiantes stunned the home crowd with a goal after just 5mins when Veron nodded in at the far post as a free-kick found him unmarked at the far post.

Estudiantes had seemed to have soaked up the early pressure and were showing glimpses of their ability, although any fluidity was soon broken up by foul play.

Brian Kidd was fouled and whilst on the floor, deliberately stamped on by Medina who then rolled around on the floor in an extravagant fashion when George Best gently budged Medina in retaliation.
Best came close to putting United on level terms on the night with a spectacular volley, but Estudiantes were making sure that United could not build up any rhythm with Best in particular the victim of some cynical fouls from Bilardo.
Veron was booked for a foul on Crerand that left the Irishman needing treatment and Denis Law needed 4 stitches after an altercation with Estudiantes Goalkeeper Poletti.
Poletti almost cost his side a goal as the Referee awarded United an indirect Free Kick, after Poletti was penalised for time wasting, but the Keeper made amends, saving an effort from Kidd arising from the free kick.
Kidd should have levelled the scores on the night as United finally found a way past the Argentine defence, only to shoot wide of the target.
United were running out of time as the Argentines continued to time waste but they could have doubled their lead, in a replica of the first goal when Conigliario found Veron at the far post, however on this occasion the ball was cleared from danger.
George Best was growing in frustration at the actions of the Estudiantes players and after yet another foul, the Irishman lashed out Medina, which led to both players being dismissed following an off the ball altercation.
Medina had to be physically removed from the pitch with the Old Trafford crowd pelting the player with objects as he left the field.
Immediately from the restart United equalised as Sadler beat the offside trap to poke home from  free-kick, livening up the otherwise silent Old Trafford crowd.
There was little time to force a winner, although United did have the ball in the net for a second time, the full time whistle had already blown as Estudiantes broke into celebrations.
The bad blood carried on after the final whistle as United Goalkeeper Alex Stepney struck a player in the face as he left the pitch, with Estudiantes having to cut short their lap of honour as the crowd hurled objects at the Argentine victors.