1986 Toyota Cup - River Plate v Steaua Bucharest

The 1986 Toyota Cup would be a David Vs Goliath clash as one of South America's biggest sides would take on surprise European Cup winners Steaua Bucharest from Romania.
Never before had a side from Eastern Europe won a European Cup and as the tournament began there was little indication that Steaua would change that. 
But the 1985/86 European Cup was weakened by the absence of English sides who were banned from Europe following the Heysel tragedy, and the draw was kind to Steaua who avoided the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona on the way to the final.
But the odds were stacked against the team from Romania as they would face Barcelona in the final, boasting German superstar Bernd Schuster, with the final being held in Spain which would feel like a home match for Barcelona with so many Barca fans in attendance.
From the start of the final it became clear that Steaua were there to neutralise their opponents and to the detriment of the game they were successful as they frustrated Barca. Schuster and Steve Archibald were both substituted having found no way past the Romanian side and the game remained scoreless even after extra time as the game went to penalties.
Amazingly Barca lost their nerve and missed all 4 of their penalties taken, Steaua themsleves only converted 2 out of 4, but that was still enough as they celebrated in front of a stunned Barcelona whose wait for a first European Cup would go on. 
Despite the circumstances surrounding the win in the final there was no doubting Steaua were a strong side, dominant domestically and still a force in Europe as proved in the following years reaching a semi-final in 1988 and another final in 1989 where they were well beaten by a strong AC Milan side.

Their opponents in Japan were also celebrating their first Continental Championship, but River Plate were giants of South America who had at last captured the Copa Libertadores, a  trophy that had eluded them for so long. River was deserved winners of the trophy, finishing clear winners of a group including bitter rivals Boca Juniors early in the competition. Their good form continued and won both legs of the final to earn them a shot at the title of Club World Champions.


Tokyo, Japan - River Plate 1v0 Steaua Bucharest


It would be a game of few clear cut chances although Steaua found the net early on, only to have the goal chalked off for offside. The key moment of the match came just before the half hour mark when a piece of quick thinking led to the breakthrough.

Giant River forward Funes was brought down midway through the Steaua half, but Alfonso caught Steaua out with a quickly taken free-kick to Alzamendi who got in behind the Steaua defence. Alzamendi's shot was parried by the Steaua keeper, but the rebound looped up invitingly for Alzamendi who nodded the ball into the net.

Steaua were forced into attack, but found River just as dogged defensively as they were against Barcelona just months earlier as they faced a back line including players who had just won the World Cup with Argentina.
Alzamendi's strike would prove to be enough as River Plate celebrated a World Championship, which remains their only one to date.